Aminotetrahydroindazoloacetic acids

ABSTRACT

The invention is concerned with the compounds of formula I: 
                         
and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof, wherein Q, R1-R3 and n are defined in the detailed description and claims. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of manufacturing and using the compounds of formula I as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds. The compounds of formula I are antagonists at the CRTH2 receptor and may be useful in treating diseases and disorders associated with that receptor such as asthma.

PRIORITY TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser.No. 12/497,786, filed Jul. 6, 2009, now allowed; which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/080,703, filed Jul. 15,2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel aminotetrahydroindazoloaceticacids, their manufacture, pharmaceutical compositions containing themand their use as CRTH2 antagonists.

Prostaglandin D₂ (PGD2) is the major prostanoid produced by activatedmast cells and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of allergicdiseases such as allergic asthma and atopic dermatitis. ChemoattractantReceptor-homologous molecule expressed on T-helper type cells (CRTH2) isone of the prostaglandin D₂ receptors and is expressed on the effectorcells involved in allergic inflammation such as T helper type 2 (Th2)cells, eosinophils, and basophils (Nagata et al., FEBS Lett 459:195-199, 1999). It has been shown to mediate PGD2-stimulated chemotaxisof Th2 cells, eosinophils, and basophils (Hirai et al., J Exp Med 193:255-261, 2001). Moreover, CRTH2 mediates the respiratory burst anddegranulation of eosinophils (Gervais et al., J Allergy Clin Immunol108: 982-988, 2001), induces the production of proinflammatory cytokinesin Th2 cells (Xue et al., J Immunol 175: 6531-6536), and enhances therelease of histamine from basophils (Yoshimura-Uchiyama et al., Clin ExpAllergy 34:1283-1290). Sequence variants of the gene encoding CRTH2,which differentially influence its mRNA stability, are shown to beassociated with asthma (Huang et al., Hum Mol Genet. 13, 2691-2697,2004). Increased numbers of circulating T cells expressing CRTH2 havealso been correlated with severity of atopic dermatitis (Cosmi et al.,Eur J Immunol 30, 2972-2979, 2000). These findings suggest that CRTH2plays a proinflammatory role in allergic diseases. Therefore,antagonists of CRTH2 are believed to be useful for treating disorderssuch as asthma, allergic inflammation, COPD, allergic rhinitis, andatopic dermatitis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is concerned with the compounds of formula I:

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof, wherein Q,R1-R3 and n are defined in the detailed description and claims. Inaddition, the present invention relates to methods of manufacturing andusing the compounds of formula I as well as pharmaceutical compositionscontaining such compounds. The compounds of formula I are antagonists atthe CRTH2 receptor and may be useful in treating diseases and disordersassociated with that receptor such as asthma.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Unless otherwise indicated, the following specific terms and phrasesused in the description and claims are defined as follows:

The term “moiety” refers to an atom or group of chemically bonded atomsthat is attached to another atom or molecule by one or more chemicalbonds thereby forming part of a molecule. For example, the variables R1,R2, and R3 of formula I refer to moieties that are attached to the corestructure of formula I by one or more chemical bonds as indicated.

In reference to a particular moiety with one or more hydrogen atoms, theterm “substituted” refers to the fact that at least one of the hydrogenatoms of that moiety is replaced by another substituent or moiety. Forexample, the term “lower alkyl substituted by halogen” refers to thefact that one or more hydrogen atoms of a lower alkyl (as defined below)is replaced by one or more halogen atoms (i.e., trifluoromethyl,difluoromethyl, fluoromethyl, chloromethyl, etc.). Similarly, the term“lower cycloalkyl substituted by lower alkyl” refers to the fact thatone or more hydrogen atoms of a lower cycloalkyl (as defined below) isreplaced by one or more lower alkyls (i.e., 1-methyl-cyclopropyl,1-ethyl-cyclopropyl, etc.)

The term “optionally substituted” refers to the fact that one or morehydrogen atoms of a moiety (with one or more hydrogen atoms) can, be butdoes not necessarily have to be, substituted with another substituent.

The term “alkyl” refers to an aliphatic straight-chain or branched-chainsaturated hydrocarbon moiety having 1 to 20 carbon atoms. In particularembodiments the alkyl has 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

The term “lower alkyl” refers to an alkyl moiety having 1 to 7 carbonatoms. In particular embodiments the lower alkyl has 1 to 4 carbon atomsand in other particular embodiments the lower alkyl has 1 to 3 carbonatoms. Examples of lower alkyls include methyl, ethyl, propyl,isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl and tert-butyl.

The term “lower cycloalkyl” refers to a saturated or partly unsaturatednon-aromatic hydrocarbon ring moiety having 3 to 7 carbon atoms bondedtogether to form a ring structure. Examples of cycloalkyls includecyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl and cycloheptyl.

The term “lower alkenyl” refers to an aliphatic straight-chain orbranched-chain hydrocarbon moiety having 2 to 7 carbon atoms and havingat least one carbon-to-carbon double bond. In particular embodiments thelower alkenyl has 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and in other embodiments, 2 to 3carbon atoms. Examples of lower alkenyls include ethenyl, 1-propenyl,2-propenyl, 1-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl and isobutenyl.

The term “lower alkynyl” refers to an aliphatic straight-chain orbranched-chain hydrocarbon moiety having 2 to 7 carbon atoms and havingat least one carbon-to-carbon triple bond. In particular embodiments thelower alkynyl has 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and in other embodiments, 2 to 3carbon atoms. Examples of lower alkynyls include ethynyl, 1-propynyl,and 2-propynyl.

The term “lower alkoxy” refers to the moiety —O—R, wherein R is loweralkyl as defined previously. Examples of lower alkoxy moieties includemethoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, isobutoxy, sec-butoxyand tert-butoxy.

The term “lower cycloalkoxy” refers to the moiety —O—R, wherein R islower cycloalkyl as defined previously. Examples of lower cycloalkoxymoieties include cyclobutoxy and cyclopentoxy.

The term “lower alkanoyl” refers to the moiety —C(O)—R, wherein R islower alkyl as defined previously. An example of a lower alkanoyl isacetyl.

The term “heteroatom” refers to nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur.

The term “lower heterocycloalkyl” refers to a saturated or partlyunsaturated non-aromatic ring moiety having 3 to 7 ring atoms bondedtogether to form a ring structure wherein one, two or three of the ringatoms is a heteroatom while the remaining ring atoms are carbon atoms.An example of a lower heterocycloalkyl is tetrahydropyran-4-yl.

The term “lower heterocycloalkyloxy” refers to the moiety R′—O—, whereinR′ is a lower heterocycloalkyl as defined above. An example of a lowerheterocycloalkyloxy is tetrahydropyran-4-yloxy.

The term “lower alkylsulfanyl” refers to the moiety —S—R, wherein R islower alkyl as defined previously. Examples of lower alkylsulfanylsinclude methylsulfanyl and ethylsulfanyl.

The term “lower cycloalkylsulfanyl” refers to the moiety —S—R, wherein Ris lower cycloalkyl as defined previously. Examples of lowercycloalkylsulfanyls include cyclopropylsulfanyl, cyclobutylsulfanyl andcyclopentylsulfanyl.

The term “lower heterocycloalkylsulfanyl” refers to the moiety —S—R,wherein R is lower heterocycloalkyl as defined previously. An example ofa lower heterocycloalkylsulfanyl is pyrrolidin-1-ylsulfanyl.

The term “lower alkylsulfinyl” refers to the moiety —S(O)—R, wherein Ris lower alkyl as defined previously. Examples of lower alkylsulfinylsinclude methylsulfinyl and ethylsulfinyl.

The term “lower cycloalkylsulfinyl” refers to the moiety —S(O)—R,wherein R is lower cycloalkyl as defined previously. Examples of lowercycloalkylsulfinyls include cyclopropylsulfinyl, cyclobutylsulfinyl andcyclopentylsulfinyl.

The term “lower heterocycloalkylsulfinyl” refers to the moiety —S(O)—R,wherein R is lower heterocycloalkyl as defined previously. An example ofa lower heterocycloalkylsulfinyl is pyrrolidin-1-ylsulfinyl.

The term “lower alkylsulfonyl” refers to the moiety —S(O)₂—R, wherein Ris lower alkyl as defined previously. Examples of lower alkylsulfonylsinclude methylsulfonyl and ethylsulfonyl.

The term “lower cycloalkylsulfonyl” refers to the moiety —S(O)₂—R,wherein R is lower cycloalkyl as defined previously. Examples of lowercycloalkylsulfonyls include cyclopropylsulfonyl, cyclobutylsulfonyl andcyclopentylsulfonyl.

The term “lower heterocycloalkylsulfonyl” refers to the moiety —S(O)₂—R,wherein R is lower heterocycloalkyl as defined previously. An example ofa lower heterocycloalkylsulfonyl is pyrrolidin-1-ylsulfonyl.

The term “lower alkylcarbonylamino” refers to the moiety —N(H)C(O)R,wherein R is lower alkyl as defined previously. Examples of loweralkylcarbonylaminos include methylcarbonylamino and ethylcarbonylamino.

The term “lower alkylsulfonylamino” refers to the moiety —N(H)S(O)₂R,wherein R is lower alkyl as defined previously. Examples of loweralkylsulfonylaminos include methylsulfonylamino and ethylsulfonylamino.

The term “lower dialkylamino” refers to the moiety —N(R)(R′), wherein Rand R′ are lower alkyl as defined previously. An example of a lowerdialkylamino is dimethylamino. The term “lower trialkylsilyl” refers tothe moiety —Si(R)(R′)(R″) wherein R, R′ and R″ are lower alkyl asdefined previously. An example of a lower trialkylsilyl istrimethylsilyl.

The term “halogen” refers to a moiety of fluoro, chloro, bromo or iodo.

Unless otherwise indicated, the term “hydrogen” or “hydro” refers to themoiety of a hydrogen atom (—H) and not H₂.

Unless otherwise indicated, the term “a compound of the formula” or “acompound of formula” or “compounds of the formula” or “compounds offormula” refers to any compound selected from the genus of compounds asdefined by the formula (Including any pharmaceutically acceptable saltor ester of any such compound).

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to those salts whichretain the biological effectiveness and properties of the free bases orfree acids, which are not biologically or otherwise undesirable. Saltsmay be formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid,hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid and thelike, preferably hydrochloric acid, and organic acids such as aceticacid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalic acid, maleicacid, malonic acid, salicylic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid,tartaric acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid,methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid,N-acetylcystein and the like. In addition, salts may be prepared by theaddition of an inorganic base or an organic base to the free acid. Saltsderived from an inorganic base include, but are not limited to, thesodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium, calcium, and magnesium salts andthe like. Salts derived from organic bases include, but are not limitedto salts of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, substituted aminesincluding naturally occurring substituted amines, cyclic amines andbasic ion exchange resins, such as isopropylamine, trimethylamine,diethylamine, triethylamine, tripropylamine, ethanolamine, lysine,arginine, N-ethylpiperidine, piperidine, polyamine resins and the like.

The compounds of the present invention can be present in the form ofpharmaceutically acceptable salts. The compounds of the presentinvention can also be present in the form of zwitterions. Particularlypreferred pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of thepresent invention are the hydrochloride salts. The compounds of thepresent invention can also be present in the form of pharmaceuticallyacceptable esters (i.e., the methyl and ethyl esters of the acids offormula I to be used as prodrugs). The compounds of the presentinvention can also be solvated, i.e. hydrated. The solvation can beaffected in the course of the manufacturing process or can take placei.e. as a consequence of hygroscopic properties of an initiallyanhydrous compound of formula I (hydration).

Compounds that have the same molecular formula but differ in the natureor sequence of bonding of their atoms or the arrangement of their atomsin space are termed “isomers.” Isomers that differ in the arrangement oftheir atoms in space are termed “stereoisomers”. Diastereomers arestereoisomers with opposite configuration at one or more chiral centerswhich are not enantiomers. Stereoisomers bearing one or more asymmetriccenters that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other aretermed “enantiomers.” When a compound has an asymmetric center, forexample, if a carbon atom is bonded to four different groups, a pair ofenantiomers is possible. An enantiomer can be characterized by theabsolute configuration of its asymmetric center or centers and isdescribed by the R- and S-sequencing rules of Cahn, Ingold and Prelog,or by the manner in which the molecule rotates the plane of polarizedlight and designated as dextrorotatory or levorotatory (i.e., as (+) or(−)-isomers respectively). A chiral compound can exist as eitherindividual enantiomer or as a mixture thereof. A mixture containingequal proportions of the enantiomers is called a “racemic mixture”.

The term “a therapeutically effective amount” of a compound means anamount of compound that is effective to prevent, alleviate or amelioratesymptoms of disease or prolong the survival of the subject beingtreated. Determination of a therapeutically effective amount is withinthe skill in the art. The therapeutically effective amount or dosage ofa compound according to this invention can vary within wide limits andmay be determined in a manner known in the art. Such dosage will beadjusted to the individual requirements in each particular caseincluding the specific compound(s) being administered, the route ofadministration, the condition being treated, as well as the patientbeing treated. In general, in the case of oral or parenteraladministration to adult humans weighing approximately 70 Kg, a dailydosage of about 0.1 mg to about 5,000 mg, 1 mg to about 1,000 mg, or 1mg to 100 mg may be appropriate, although the lower and upper limits maybe exceeded when indicated. The daily dosage can be administered as asingle dose or in divided doses, or for parenteral administration, itmay be given as continuous infusion.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” is intended to includeany and all material compatible with pharmaceutical administrationincluding solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial andantifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and othermaterials and compounds compatible with pharmaceutical administration.Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible withthe active compound, use thereof in the compositions of the invention iscontemplated. Supplementary active compounds can also be incorporatedinto the compositions.

Useful pharmaceutical carriers for the preparation of the compositionshereof, can be solids, liquids or gases; thus, the compositions can takethe form of tablets, pills, capsules, suppositories, powders,enterically coated or other protected formulations (e.g. binding onion-exchange resins or packaging in lipid-protein vesicles), sustainedrelease formulations, solutions, suspensions, elixirs, aerosols, and thelike. The carrier can be selected from the various oils including thoseof petroleum, animal, vegetable or synthetic origin, e.g., peanut oil,soybean oil, mineral oil, sesame oil, and the like. Water, saline,aqueous dextrose, and glycols are preferred liquid carriers,particularly (when isotonic with the blood) for injectable solutions.For example, formulations for intravenous administration comprisesterile aqueous solutions of the active ingredient(s) which are preparedby dissolving solid active ingredient(s) in water to produce an aqueoussolution, and rendering the solution sterile. Suitable pharmaceuticalexcipients include starch, cellulose, talc, glucose, lactose, talc,gelatin, malt, rice, flour, chalk, silica, magnesium stearate, sodiumstearate, glycerol monostearate, sodium chloride, dried skim milk,glycerol, propylene glycol, water, ethanol, and the like. Thecompositions may be subjected to conventional pharmaceutical additivessuch as preservatives, stabilizing agents, wetting or emulsifyingagents, salts for adjusting osmotic pressure, buffers and the like.Suitable pharmaceutical carriers and their formulation are described inRemington's Pharmaceutical Sciences by E. W. Martin. Such compositionswill, in any event, contain an effective amount of the active compoundtogether with a suitable carrier so as to prepare the proper dosage formfor proper administration to the recipient.

In the practice of the method of the present invention, an effectiveamount of any one of the compounds of this invention or a combination ofany of the compounds of this invention or a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt or ester thereof, is administered via any of the usual andacceptable methods known in the art, either singly or in combination.The compounds or compositions can thus be administered orally (e.g.,buccal cavity), sublingually, parenterally (e.g., intramuscularly,intravenously, or subcutaneously), rectally (e.g., by suppositories orwashings), transdermally (e.g., skin electroporation) or by inhalation(e.g., by aerosol), and in the form of solid, liquid or gaseous dosages,including tablets and suspensions. The administration can be conductedin a single unit dosage form with continuous therapy or in a single dosetherapy ad libitum. The therapeutic composition can also be in the formof an oil emulsion or dispersion in conjunction with a lipophilic saltsuch as pamoic acid, or in the form of a biodegradable sustained-releasecomposition for subcutaneous or intramuscular administration.

In detail, the present invention relates to the compounds of formula I:

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof, wherein:

-   -   Q is carbon or nitrogen;    -   R1 is hydrogen or lower alkyl optionally substituted by halogen;    -   R2 and R3 are bonded to the ring containing Q by substitution of        a hydrogen atom of a ring carbon atom; and R2 and R3 are        independently selected from the group consisting of:        -   (1) hydrogen;        -   (2) halogen;        -   (3) —NH₂;        -   (4) —NO₂;        -   (5) lower alkyl optionally substituted by halogen,        -   (6) lower cycloalkyl optionally substituted by lower alkyl;        -   (7) lower alkenyl;        -   (8) lower alkynyl;        -   (9) lower alkanoyl;        -   (10) lower alkoxy;        -   (11) lower cycloalkoxy;        -   (12) lower heterocycloalkyl;        -   (13) lower heterocycloalkyloxy;        -   (14) lower alkylsulfanyl, lower cycloalkylsulfanyl, or lower            heterocycloalkylsulfanyl;        -   (15) lower alkylsulfinyl, lower cycloalkylsulfinyl, or lower            heterocycloalkylsulfinyl;        -   (16) lower alkylsulfonyl, lower cycloalkylsulfonyl, or lower            heterocycloalkylsulfonyl;        -   (17) lower alkylcarbonylamino;        -   (18) lower alkylsulfonylamino;        -   (19) lower dialkylamino; and        -   (20) lower trialkylsilyl;    -   wherein at least one of R2 or R3 is a moiety other than hydrogen        that is bonded to a ring carbon atom of the ring containing Q;        and    -   n is 1 or 2.

Unless indicated otherwise, the term “Q is carbon or nitrogen”indicates: (1) when Q is carbon as depicted in formula I, the carbon iseither unsubstituted by being bonded to a hydrogen (C—H) or substitutedby being bonded to the moiety R2 (C—R2) or bonded to the moiety R3(C—R3); and (2) when Q is nitrogen, the nitrogen is not bonded to eithera hydrogen or R2 or R3.

Unless indicated otherwise, the term “R2 and R3 are bonded to the ringcontaining Q by substitution of a hydrogen atom of a ring carbon atom”refers to the fact that R2 and R3 as depicted in formula I(independently of each other) are bonded to one of the ring carbon atoms(of the aromatic ring in formula I containing Q) in place of a hydrogenatom that would otherwise be bonded to that carbon atom absent beingsubstituted by R2 or R3; with the understanding that R2 and R3 are notsimultaneously bonded to the same carbon atom.

Unless indicated otherwise, the genus of formula I and any subgenerathereof encompass all possible stereoisomers (i.e., (R)-enantiomers and(S)-enantiomers) as well as racemic and scalemic mixtures thereof. Inone embodiment of the invention, the compounds of formula I are(R)-enantiomers or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofas depicted in the following subgeneric structural formula for the(R)-enantiomers of formula I:

-   -   wherein Q and R1 to R3 and n are as defined previously.

In another embodiment, the compounds of formula I are (5)-enantiomers orpharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof as depicted in thefollowing subgeneric structural formula for the (5)-enantiomers offormula I:

-   -   wherein Q, R1 to R3 and n are as defined previously.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to a compositioncomprising a mixture (racemic or otherwise) of the (R)-enantiomers and(5)-enantiomers of a compound of formula I.

In some embodiments the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula IA or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof (asubgenus of formula I wherein Q represents CH) as shown below:

-   -   wherein R1 to R3 and n are as defined previously for formula I.

In other embodiments the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula IB or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof (asubgenus of formula I wherein Q represents N) as shown below:

-   -   wherein R1 to R3 and n are as defined previously for formula I.

In one embodiment the present invention is directed to the compounds offormula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof whereinR1 is hydrogen.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwherein R1 is lower alkyl.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwherein R1 is methyl.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwherein n is 1.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwherein n is 2.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwherein R2 and R3, independently of each other, are bonded to the ringcontaining Q at positions 3, 4, or 5 but not at the same position aseach other, where such positions are indicated below:

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwherein R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consistingof:

-   -   (1) halogen;    -   (2) lower alkyl optionally substituted by halogen,    -   (3) lower cycloalkyl optionally substituted by lower alkyl;    -   (4) lower alkenyl;    -   (5) lower alkynyl;    -   (6) lower alkanoyl;    -   (7) lower alkoxy;    -   (8) lower cycloalkoxy;    -   (9) lower alkylsulfonyl, lower cycloalkylsulfonyl, or lower        heterocycloalkylsulfonyl;    -   (10) lower alkylcarbonylamino;    -   (11) lower alkylsulfonylamino;    -   (12) lower dialkylamino; and    -   (13) lower trialkylsilyl.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwherein R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consistingof:

-   -   (1) halogen;    -   (2) lower alkyl optionally substituted by halogen,    -   (3) lower cycloalkyl optionally substituted by lower alkyl;    -   (4) lower alkenyl;    -   (5) lower alkynyl;    -   (6) lower alkanoyl;    -   (7) lower alkoxy;    -   (8) lower cycloalkoxy; and    -   (9) lower alkylsulfonyl, lower cycloalkylsulfonyl, or lower        heterocycloalkylsulfonyl.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwherein R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consistingof:

-   -   (1) halogen;    -   (2) lower alkyl optionally substituted by halogen,    -   (3) lower cycloalkyl optionally substituted by lower alkyl;    -   (4) lower alkoxy;    -   (5) lower cycloalkoxy; and    -   (6) lower alkylsulfonyl or lower cycloalkylsulfonyl.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwherein R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consistingof:

-   -   (1) halogen;    -   (2) lower alkyl optionally substituted by halogen, and    -   (3) lower alkylsulfonyl or lower cycloalkylsulfonyl.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwherein R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consistingof trifluoromethyl, lower alkylsulfonyl and lower cycloalkylsulfonyl.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwherein at least one of R2 or R3 is trifluoromethyl.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwherein one of R2 or R3 is trifluoromethyl and the other is selectedfrom the group consisting of:

-   -   (1) halogen;    -   (2) lower alkyl optionally substituted by halogen,    -   (3) lower cycloalkyl optionally substituted by lower alkyl;    -   (4) lower alkenyl;    -   (5) lower alkynyl;    -   (6) lower alkanoyl;    -   (7) lower alkoxy;    -   (8) lower cycloalkoxy; and    -   (9) lower alkylsulfonyl, lower cycloalkylsulfonyl, or lower        heterocycloalkylsulfonyl.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwherein one of R2 or R3 is bonded to position 3 when Q is carbon and theother is bonded to position 5 on the ring containing Q.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwherein both R2 and R3 are not hydrogen.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwherein R1 is methyl and n is 1.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwhich are (R)-enantiomers and wherein R1 is methyl and n is 1.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwhich are (R)-enantiomers and wherein R1 is methyl, n is 1, and whereinone of R2 or R3 is bonded to position 3 and the other is bonded toposition 5 on the ring containing Q, and wherein both R2 and R3 are nothydrogen.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to the compoundsof formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereofwhich are (R)-enantiomers and wherein R1 is methyl, n is 1, one of R2 orR3 is bonded to position 3 and the other is bonded to position 5 on thering containing Q, and at least one of R2 or R3 is trifluoromethyl.

In a more specific embodiment the present invention is directed to acompound of formula I selected from the group consisting of:

-   [(R)-4-(3-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(3,5-Dichloro-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(2,4-Dichloro-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [(R)-4-(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(4-Methyl-3-nitro-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(3,5-Dimethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(3-Bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(4-Bromo-3-fluoro-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(4-Bromo-3-methyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(4-Bromo-3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(5-Bromo-6-chloro-pyridine-3-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [(R)-4-(3-Methoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(2,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(3-Methanesulfonyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(4-Methoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [(R)-4-(3,5-Bis-methanesulfonyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(3-Chloro-4-methyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   3-[(R)-4-(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-propionic    acid methyl ester;-   [(R)-4-(3-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(3,5-Dichloro-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(2,4-Dichloro-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [(R)-4-(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(4-Methyl-3-nitro-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(3,5-Dimethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(3-Bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(4-Bromo-3-fluoro-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(4-Bromo-3-methyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(4-Bromo-3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(5-Bromo-6-chloro-pyridine-3-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [(R)-4-(3-Methoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(2,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(3-Methanesulfonyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(4-Methoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [(R)-4-(3,5-Bis-methanesulfonyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(3-Chloro-4-methyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   3-[(R)-4-(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-propionic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(4-Bromo-2-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(2-Chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(4-Bromo-2-fluoro-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(3-Bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(3,5-Dibromo-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(3,5-Di-tert-butyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   3-{(R)-4-[(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-propionic    acid methyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(4-Bromo-2-chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(2-Chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(4-Bromo-2-fluoro-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(3-Bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(3,5-Dibromo-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(3,5-Di-tert-butyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   3-{(R)-4-[(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-propionic    acid;-   [4-(3-ethoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(5-Bromo-6-ethoxy-pyridine-3-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(5-Bromo-6-cyclopentyloxy-pyridine-3-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(3-Isopropoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(3-ethoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(5-Bromo-6-ethoxy-pyridine-3-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(5-Bromo-6-cyclopentyloxy-pyridine-3-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(3-Isopropoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(3-chloro-4-fluoro-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(3-chloro-4-cyclopentyloxy-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(5-Bromo-6-cyclobutoxy-pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(5-Bromo-6-isopropoxy-pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   ((R)-4-{[5-Bromo-6-(tetrahydro-pyran-4-yloxy)-pyridine-3-sulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(3-chloro-4-cyclopentyloxy-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(5-Bromo-6-cyclobutoxy-pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(5-Bromo-6-isopropoxy-pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   ((R)-4-{[5-Bromo-6-(tetrahydro-pyran-4-yloxy)-pyridine-3-sulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic    acid;-   [(R)-4-(3-methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [(R)-4-(3-methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(3-methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(3-methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   [(R)-4-(3-ethanesulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [(R)-4-(3-Ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [(R)-4-(3-Cyclopentanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [(R)-4-(3-Ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [(R)-4-(3-Cyclopentanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(3-fluoro-5-trifluoro-methyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(3-Ethylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(3-ethanesulfinyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(3-ethanesulfinyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(3-Cyclopentylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(3-cyclopentylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(3-Cyclopentanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   ((R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(propane-2-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   ((R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(2-methyl-propane-2-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   3-((R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(propane-2-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-propionic    acid methyl ester;-   3-{(R)-4-[(3-Cyclopentanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-propionic    acid ethyl ester;-   3-((R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(2-methyl-propane-2-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-propionic    acid methyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(3-Cyclopentanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   ((R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(propane-2-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic    acid;-   ((R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(2-methyl-propane-2-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic    acid;-   3-((R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(propane-2-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-propionic    acid;-   3-{(R)-4-[(3-Cyclopentanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-propionic    acid;-   3-((R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(2-methyl-propane-2-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-propionic    acid;-   [(R)-4-(3-isopropenyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl-amino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[3-(1-methyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[3-(1-methyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   [4-(3-isopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(3-isopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl-amino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(3-isopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(3-isopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(3-isopropenyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   ((R)-4-{methyl-[3-(1-methyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   ((R)-4-{methyl-[3-(1-methyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic    acid;-   ((R)-4-{methyl-[3-(1-methylene-propyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   ((R)-4-{[3-(1-ethyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   ((R)-4-{[3-(1-ethyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic    acid;-   [4-(3-ethynyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(3-ethynyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[methyl-(3-trifluoromethyl-5-trimethylsilanyl-benzenesulfonyl)-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[methyl-(3-trifluoromethyl-5-trimethylsilanyl-benzenesulfonyl)-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(3-cyclopentyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(3-cyclopentyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(3-acetyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(3-acetyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   ((R)-4-{[3-(1,1-difluoro-ethyl)-5-trifluoro-methyl-benzenesulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   ((R)-4-{[3-(1,1-difluoro-ethyl)-5-trifluoro-methyl-benzenesulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic    acid;-   [4-(3-nitro-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(3-amino-benzene-sulfonyl-amino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(3-acetylamino-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(3-Acetylamino-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(3-methanesulfonylamino-benzene-sulfonyl-amino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester;-   [4-(3-methanesulfonylamino-benzene-sulfonyl-amino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[methyl-(3-pyrrolidin-1-yl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   ((R)-4-{[3-(Isopropyl-methyl-amino)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(3-Dimethylamino-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(3-Diethylamino-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid;-   [4-(3-cyclopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(3-Methyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   [4-(3-Isopropenyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid;-   {(R)-4-[(3-cyclopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid methyl ester;-   {(R)-4-[(3-cyclopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic    acid; and    any pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a compound selected fromthe group consisting of:

-   2-{(R)-4-[(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-2-methyl-propionic    acid methyl ester;-   2-{(R)-4-[(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-2-methyl-propionic    acid; and-   [4-(3-trifluoromethyl-5-trimethylsilanylethynyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic    acid ethyl ester.

General Synthesis of the Compounds of Formula I

The compounds of the present invention can be prepared by anyconventional means. Suitable processes for synthesizing these compoundsare provided in the examples. Generally, compounds of formula I can beprepared according to the schemes illustrated below.

The key intermediates of formula IIa and IIb for synthesizing thecompounds of interest can be prepared according to Scheme 1. In thisprocess, a cyclization reaction involving commercially availablematerials, cyclohexane-1,3-dione (IV), ethyl hydrazinoacetatehydrochloride (V), and dimethoxymethyl-dimethyl-amine (VI), gives theintermediate of formula VII, which is subsequently treated withhydroxylamine hydrochloride (VIII) to produce the oxime IX. Compound IXis then converted to the corresponding amino analogue XIII, which isfurther functionalized to the racemic mixture of its carbamatederivatives XVa and XVb. Hydrogenolysis of either XVa or XVb (or themixture of the two) then provides the corresponding IIa or IIbseparately (or as the mixture of the two).

In the first step outlined in the Scheme 1, the intermediate VII can beprepared by treating cyclohexane-1,3-dione (IV) with an equimolar amountof ethyl hydrazinoacetate hydrochloride (V) in an inert solvent such asN,N-dimethylformamide at room temperature for about 5 minutes, followedby addition of dimethoxymethyl-dimethyl-amine (VI), and subsequentlyheating at 190° C. for 2 minutes under microwave irradiation (reference:Molteni, V. et al., Synthesis (2002) 1669).

Condensation of the ketone VII with hydroxylamine hydrochloride (VIII)to give the oxime IX can be achieved by heating the reaction mixture ata temperature between 70 and 90° C. (reflux temperature) for 1 to 3hours in an alcohol solvent, such as methanol, ethanol or n-butanol. Thereaction can be carried out in the presence or absence of a base such aspyridine, sodium hydroxide, or sodium acetate.

Reduction of the oxime IX to the corresponding amine XIII can beachieved by using titanium (III) chloride (X), sodium cyanoborohydride(XI), and ammonium acetate (XII). The reaction can be carried out atroom temperature for several hours, under an atmosphere of an inert gassuch as nitrogen or argon (reference: Leeds, J. P. et al., Synth. Comm.18 (1988) 777).

The racemic mixture of carbamates XVa and XVb can be prepared by thecondensation of the intermediate XIII with benzyl chloroformate (XIV),in the presence of an inorganic base (such as sodium carbonate, sodiumbicarbonate, or sodium hydroxide) or an organic base (such astriethylamine, diisopropylethylamine or the like). The reaction solventcan be a suitable inert solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, toluene, or1,4-dioxane when an organic base is used, or a mixture of above solventwith water when an inorganic base is used. The reaction can initially becarried out at 0° C., and then slowly allowed to warm up to roomtemperature during several hours. The enantiomers from the racemicmixture thus prepared can be separated at this stage to XVa and XVbusing a chiral column (CHIRALPAK AS-H, 5 um, 20×250 mm) on a Gilsoninstrument.

Hydrogenolysis of each single enantiomer XVa or XVb (or the racemicmixture of the two) to the corresponding amine of formula IIa or IIbwith retained chirality can be conveniently carried out in the presenceof 10% palladium on carbon under an atmospheric pressure of hydrogen, atroom temperature for several hours, in an organic solvent such as ethylacetate, methanol, or ethanol.

Alternatively, the key intermediate IIa or IIb can be prepared via anasymmetric synthesis approach shown in Scheme 2. This process givespredominately the enantiomer of structure IIa, which is the morepreferable in this invention. Reduction of the ketone VII to thehydroxyl compound XVIII can be done enantioselectively by using thechiral catalyst of formula XVI in the presence of formicacid-triethylamine azeotropes (XVII). The hydroxyl compound XVIII isthen converted to its azido analogue XXIa and XXIb with high preferencefor the formation of XXIa using diphenylphosphoryl azide (DPPA) (XIX)and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]-undec-7-ene (DBU) (XX). Hydrogenation ofeither XXIa or XXIb gives the corresponding amine IIa or IIb withchirality intact.

Reduction of the ketone VII to the hydroxyl compound XVIII can be doneenantioselectively by using a catalyst such aschloro-[(1S,2S)—N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-1,2-diphenylethane-diamine](mesitylene) ruthenium( ) (XVI) in formic acid-triethylamine azeotropes(molar fraction of triethylamine: 0.2857) at room temperature forseveral hours, and then at 45° C. for another few hours (reference:Fuji, A. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 118 (1996) 2521; Wagner, K. Angew.Chem., Int. Ed. Engl. 9 (1970), 50).

Displacement of the hydroxyl group of structure XVIII to give the azidoanalogues XXIa and XXIb with a high selectivity for XXIa can be achievedby treating a mixture of compound XVIII and diphenylphosphoryl azide(DPPA) (XIX) with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]-undec-7-ene (DBU) (XX) underanhydrous conditions at a temperature between −6 and 10° C. for 16 hoursin an inert solvent such as toluene or N,N-dimethylformamide. Theenantiomers from the mixture thus prepared can be separated bypreparative HPLC with a Chiralpak IA column (reference: Ho, W-B. et al.,J. Org. Chem. 65 (2000) 6743).

Hydrogenation of each enantiomer XXIa or XXIb to give the correspondingamine IIa or IIb with retained chirality can be carried out in thepresence of 10% palladium on carbon under 30 psi pressure of hydrogen,at room temperature for 1 hour, in an organic solvent such as ethylacetate, methanol, or ethanol.

The key intermediate III can be prepared according to Scheme 3, startingwith the intermediate XVa (synthesis shown in Scheme 1). Sodiumborohydride reduction gives the corresponding hydroxyl compound XXIIIMesylation of the alcohol XXIII, followed by treatment with sodiumcyanide (XXVI) generates the cyano derivative XXVII. Conversion of thecyanide XXVII to the methyl ester analogue XXVIII can be done easily byalcoholysis. Hydrogenolysis of the benzyl carbamate XXVIII affordscompound III.

Reduction of the ester XVa to the corresponding alcohol XXIII can beeasily done with a hydride-donor reagent such as sodium borohydride inan alcoholic solvent such as methanol or ethanol, at the refluxtemperature of the solvent for several hours.

Reaction of the alcohol XXIII with methanesulfonyl chloride XXIV leadsto the formation of the mesylate XXV. The reaction can be carried out inthe presence of a base such as pyridine, triethylamine, ordiisopropylethylamine in an inert solvent such as 1,4-dioxane,dichloromethane, or tetrahydrofuran at a temperature between 0° C. androom temperature for several hours.

Transformation of the mesylate XXV to the cyano derivative XXVII can beachieved by using sodium cyanide or potassium cyanide in a polar solventsuch as dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, or a mixture ofethanol and water at a temperature between 55 and 80° C. for 2 to 4hours.

The methyl ester XXVIII can be prepared by acid catalyzed alcoholysis ofthe cyano derivative XXVII in a solution of hydrogen chloride inmethanol at room temperature for 30 hours, or at a higher temperature(reflux temperature) for a shorter period of time.

Hydrogenolysis of the benzyl carbamate XXVIII gives the key intermediateIII. The reaction can be carried out in the presence of 10% palladium oncarbon under an atmospheric pressure of hydrogen in a solvent such asethanol, ethyl acetate, or methanol at room temperature for severalhours.

The compounds of interest of formula Ia or Ib can be prepared accordingto Scheme 4. Sulfonylation of the amine IIa, IIb or III leads to thecorresponding sulfonamides XXX. Hydrolysis of the esters XXX gives thecompounds of interest Ia. The N-methyl compounds Ib can be obtainedthrough methylation of the intermediates XXX, followed by a hydrolysisreaction.

Sulfonylation of the amine IIa, IIb or III with sulfonyl chlorides XXIXto give the sulfonamides XXX can be easily accomplished using methodswell known to someone skilled in the art. The reaction is typicallycarried out in the presence of a base such as triethylamine, pyridine,or dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl-amine in a suitable inert solvent such asdichloromethane, acetonitrile, 1,4-dioxane, or tetrahydrofuran andmixtures thereof, at room temperature for 16 hours.

The compounds of interest of formula Ia can be conveniently prepared viahydrolysis of the esters XXX. The reaction can be carried out in thepresence of an aqueous inorganic base such as sodium hydroxide orpotassium hydroxide, in an inert solvent such as 1,4-dioxane ortetrahydrofuran, at room temperature for several hours.

N-methylation of compounds XXX to produce the derivatives XXXII can beachieved by treating compounds XXX with methyl iodide (XXXI) in thepresence of a weak base such as potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate,in an inert solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, acetonitrile orN,N-dimethylformamide, at 65° C. for 5 hours.

Hydrolysis of compounds XXXII gives the compounds of interest of formulaIb. The reaction can be carried out in the presence of an aqueousinorganic base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, in aninert solvent such as 1,4-dioxane or tetrahydrofuran, at roomtemperature for several hours.

Compounds Ic, where an alkyl group (R4) is linked to the aromatic ringthrough an ether linkage, can be prepared according to Scheme 5, bystarting with nucleophilic substitution of compounds XXXIII (preparedsimilarly to XXX or XXXII) with the alkyl alcohols XXXIV to give theether XXXV, followed by a base-catalyzed hydrolysis.

Conversion of compounds XXXIII to compounds XXXV can be achieved by anucleophilic substitution reaction with an alkyl alcohol XXXIV, which iswell known to those skilled in the art, in the presence of a base suchas sodium hydride or potassium carbonate, in an inert solvent such asN,N-dimethylformamide at a temperature between 100 and 150° C. for 15 to60 minutes under microwave irradiation.

Hydrolysis of compounds XXXV gives the compounds of interest of formulaIc. The reaction can be carried out in the presence of an aqueousinorganic base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, in aninert solvent such as tetrahydrofuran or 1,4-dioxane, at roomtemperature for several hours.

Synthesis of the compounds of interest Id is illustrated in Scheme 6.This process can give more diversified compounds of interest viatransition metal (such as palladium) catalyzed coupling reactions suchas Suzuki coupling, Negishi coupling, Stille coupling, or catalyticsilylation. In this sequence, palladium catalyzed reaction of the arylhalide compounds XXXVI (prepared similar to compounds XXX, or XXXII)with the appropriate reactants XXXVII (boronic acids, organotin,organozinc, hexamethyldisilane), followed by hydrolysis can afford thecompounds of interest Id.

In the first step of this sequence, various metal catalyzed couplingreactions, which are well know to the one skilled in the art, can beused to diversify the substituents on the aromatic sulfonamide ring. Forexample, Suzuki coupling reactions of the alkyl boronic acids XXXVIIawith the aryl halide compounds XXXVI to give compounds XXXVIII can becarried out in the presence of a palladium catalyst such astetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (Pd(PPh₃)₄), or[1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II)(PdCl₂(dppf)), and a base such as potassium tert-butoxide, sodiumcarbonate, or sodium hydroxide, in a suitable solvent such asN,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, toluene, tetrahydrofuran,water or mixtures thereof, at a temperature between 130 and 180° C. for15 to 30 minutes under microwave irradiation. Alternatively, thereactions can be carried out without the use of a microwave at a heatedtemperature such as 130° C. for a longer reaction time.

Compounds XXXVIII can also be prepared via Negishi coupling reactions,which involve the aryl halides XXXVI and the organozinc compoundsXXXVIIa′ and a nickel or palladium catalyst. Typically, the catalystsare tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0) (Pd₂(dba)₃),tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (Pd(PPh₃)₄), palladium acetate(Pd(OAc)₂), bis(triphenylphosphine)dichloronickel (NiCl₂(PPh₃)₂).Ligands such as triphenylphosphine, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane,tris(tert-butyl)phosphine are also sometimes needed. The reactions canbe carried out in a suitable solvent such as tetrahydrofuran,N,N-dimethylformamide, acetyldimethylamine, or toluene at a temperaturebetween 0° C. and reflux temperature for several hours (reference:Wooten, A. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 128 (2006) 4624).

Alternatively, Stille coupling reactions of the aryl halides XXXVI withthe organotin derivatives XXXVIIa″ also give compounds XXXVIII. Thereaction is typically carried out in the presence of a palladiumcatalyst such as tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0) (Pd₂(dba)₃),tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (Pd(PPh₃)₄) in a suitablesolvent such as N,N-dimethylformamide, toluene, 1,4-dioxane, orhexamethylphosphoramide at a temperature between room temperature and100° C. (reference: Sturino, C. F. et al., J. Med. Chem., 50 (2007)794).

Silylation of the aryl halide compounds XXXVI can be done by treatingcompounds XXXVI with hexamethyldisilane XXXVIIa′″ in the presence of apalladium catalyst such as tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0)(Pd₂(dba)₃) in combination with a phosphine such as2-(di-t-butylphosphino)biphenyl (P(t-Bu)₂Ph₂), or diphenyl-2′-pyridylphosphine (PPh₂Py) and an inorganic base such as potassium carbonate, orpotassium fluoride, in a polar solvent such as1,3-dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2(1H)-pyrimidinone (DMPU),hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA), or N,N-dimethylformamide at 100° C. forseveral hours (Gooβen, L. J. et al. Synlett (2000) 1801).

Hydrolysis of compounds XXXVIII gives the compounds of interest offormula Id. The reaction can be carried out in the presence of anaqueous inorganic base such as sodium hydroxide, or potassium hydroxide,in an inert solvent such as 1,4-dioxane or tetrahydrofuran, at roomtemperature for several hours.

The compounds of interest of structure Ie and If, are designated inScheme 7. Compounds Ie, where there is an alkyl sulfanyl group on thearomatic ring can be prepared by nucleophilic substitution of thefluoro-substituted compounds XXXIX (which may be prepared using thereactions described above for the preparation of compounds XXX or XXXII)with the lower alkyl thiols XL, followed by a hydrolysis reaction.Compounds If, where there is an alkyl sulfinyl group or an alkylsulfonyl group on the aromatic ring, can be prepared by oxidation of thesulfanyl compounds XLI to the corresponding sulfoxides or sulfones,followed by a hydrolysis reaction.

Nucleophilic substitution of the fluoro-substituted compounds XXXIX withthe lower alkyl thiols XL to give the 3-alkylsulfanyl analogues XLI canbe done in the presence of a base, such as potassium carbonate, cesiumcarbonate, potassium hydroxide, sodium acetate, or triethylamine, in asolvent such as N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, ethanol,water or mixtures thereof, at a temperature between 100 and 150° C. forabout 30 to 60 minutes under microwave irradiation. Alternatively, thereaction can be also carried out without the use of a microwave at amoderately elevated temperature for a longer period of time.

Hydrolysis of compounds XLI gives the compounds of interest of formulaIe. The reaction can be carried out in the presence of an aqueousinorganic base such as sodium hydroxide, or potassium hydroxide in aninert solvent such as 1,4-dioxane or tetrahydrofuran at room temperaturefor several hours.

Oxidation of the sulfanyl compounds XLI to the sulfinyl or sulfonylanalogues XLIII can be achieved using an oxidant such as hydrogenperoxide or m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA) (XLII), in an inertsolvent such as dichloromethane or dichloroethane (or an aqueoussolution if hydrogen peroxide is used), at a temperature between 0° C.and room temperature for several hours.

Hydrolysis of compounds XLIII gives the compounds of interest of formulaIf. The reaction can be carried out in the presence of an aqueousinorganic base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, in aninert solvent such as 1,4-dioxane or tetrahydrofuran, at roomtemperature for several hours.

Alternatively, compounds Ig and Ih can be prepared, according to Scheme8. Compound Ig can be obtained by substitution of the 3-bromo compoundsXLIV with commercially available sulfinic acid sodium salts (XLV),followed by base-catalyzed hydrolysis. The N-methyl compounds Ih can beobtained through methylation of the intermediates XLVI, followed by ahydrolysis reaction.

In this process, the intermediate sulfonyl compounds XLVI can be formedvia a copper (I) iodide catalyzed reaction of the bromo derivative XLIVwith methanesulfinic acid sodium salts (XLV). The reaction can becarried out in the presence of catalysts copper(I) iodide and L-prolinesodium salt in a polar solvent such as N,N-dimethylformamide,1-methylpyrrolidine, or 1,4-dioxane at a temperature of 150° C. for 30minutes under microwave irradiation (Zhu, W. et al., J. Org. Chem. 70(2005) 2696).

Hydrolysis of compounds XLVI gives the compounds of interest of formulaIg. The reaction can be carried out in the presence of an aqueousinorganic base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, in aninert solvent such as 1,4-dioxane or tetrahydrofuran, at roomtemperature for several hours.

N-methylation of compounds XLVI to produce the derivatives XLVII can beachieved by treating compounds XLVI with methyl iodide (XXXI) in thepresence of a weak base such as potassium carbonate, or sodium carbonatein an inert solvent such as acetonitrile, dimethylformamide, ortetrahydrofuran at 65° C. for 5 hours.

Hydrolysis of compounds XLVII gives the compounds of interest of formulaIh. The reaction can be carried out in the presence of an aqueousinorganic base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, in aninert solvent such as 1,4-dioxane, or tetrahydrofuran at roomtemperature for several hours.

The compounds of structure Ii, bearing an amino group on the aromaticring, can be prepared, according to Scheme 9, by nucleophilicsubstitution of the fluoro-substituted derivative XLVIII with primary orsecondary amines XLIX. The reaction can be easily carried out in a polarsolvent such as dimethyl sulfoxide or N,N-dimethylformamide, at a hightemperature between 150 and 180° C. for 50 to 60 minutes under microwaveirradiation.

The preparation of compounds Ij-Im is shown in Scheme 10. Starting withcompounds L, which can be obtained as outlined in Scheme 6, thecyclopropyl derivatives Ij can be formed by treating the olefins L withmethylene diiodide (LI) and diethylzinc (LII) followed by a hydrolysisreaction. Hydrogenation of compounds L, followed by an ester hydrolysisreaction provides compounds Ik. N-methylation of compounds LIII withmethyl iodide XXXI, followed by hydrolysis gives compounds II.N-methylation of the olefins L generates the intermediates LIV.Cyclopropyl derivatives Im can be obtained by treating the intermediatesLIV with diazomethane (LV), followed by an ester hydrolysis reaction.

Cyclopropyl ring formation can be achieved by treating the olefins Lwith methylene diiodide (LI) and diethylzinc (LII) in an inert solventsuch as toluene, tetrahydrofuran, or methylene chloride at a temperaturebetween 0° C. and room temperature for several hours (reference:Lacasse, M. C. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127 (2005) 12440). The finalcompounds Ij can be obtained through base-catalyzed hydrolysis in thepresence of an aqueous inorganic base such as sodium hydroxide orpotassium hydroxide, in an inert solvent such as 1,4-dioxane ortetrahydrofuran, at room temperature for several hours.

Conversion of the olefins L to the corresponding saturated intermediatesLIII via hydrogenation can be carried out in the presence of 10%palladium on carbon under 30 psi pressure of hydrogen in a solvent suchas ethanol, ethyl acetate, or methanol at room temperature for severalhours. The final compounds Ik can be obtained through base-catalyzedhydrolysis in the presence of an aqueous inorganic base such as sodiumhydroxide or potassium hydroxide, in an inert solvent such as1,4-dioxane or tetrahydrofuran, at room temperature for several hours.

N-methylation of compound LIII with methyl iodide (XXXI) can be achievedin the presence of a weak base such as potassium carbonate or sodiumcarbonate, in an inert solvent such as N,N-dimethylformamide,acetonitrile, or tetrahydrofuran at 65° C. for several hours. The finalcompounds II can be obtained through base-catalyzed hydrolysis in thepresence of an aqueous inorganic base such as sodium hydroxide orpotassium hydroxide, in an inert solvent such as 1,4-dioxane ortetrahydrofuran, at room temperature for several hours.

In the same fashion, the N-methyl compounds LIV can be obtained fromcompounds L by using methyl iodide (XXXI) in the presence of a weak basesuch as potassium carbonate, or sodium carbonate in an inert solventsuch as N,N-dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, or tetrahydrofuran at 65°C. for 5 hours. Transformation of the double bond compounds LIV to thecorresponding cyclopropyl ring derivatives can be done by treatingcompound LIV with diazomethane (LV) in the presence of a palladiumcatalyst such as palladium acetate, palladium(II)acetylacetone, orpalladium dichloride bis(benzonitrile) in a solvent such asdichloromethane, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, or the mixture ofthereof at a temperature between 0° C. and room temperature for severalhours (reference: Staas, D. D. et al. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 14 (2006)6900). Further hydrolysis of the prepared cyclopropyl compound gives thefinal compounds Im. The reaction can be carried out in the presence ofan aqueous inorganic base such as sodium hydroxide or potassiumhydroxide, in an inert solvent such as 1,4-dioxane or tetrahydrofuran,at room temperature for several hours.

Synthesis of the acetylene derivative of structure In is illustrated inScheme 11. Formation of compound In can be achieved by a Sonogashiracoupling reaction between the bromo derivative LVI andtrimethylsilylacetylene (LVII), followed by a potassium fluoridemediated trimethylsilanyl removal, and subsequent ester hydrolysis.

In the first step of this sequence, the intermediate LVIII can begenerated by a coupling reaction between the aryl bromide compound LVIand trimethylsilanylacetylene (LVII) in the presence of a palladiumcatalyst such as tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0), orbis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride, and a copper(I) catalystsuch as copper(I) iodide. The reaction can be carried out in thepresence of a base such as triethylamine, or diisopropylethylamine in aninert solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, or toluene at 80° C. for about 20minutes under microwave irradiation (Baldwin, K. P. et al., Synlett 11(1993) 853).

Removal of trimethylsilanyl group of compound LVIII to give the terminalacetylene LIX can be conveniently achieved using potassium fluoride ortetrabutylammonium fluoride in a suitable solvent such as water,tetrahydrofuran, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, methanol, ormixtures thereof, at room temperature for several hours. Alternatively,a base such as potassium carbonate or potassium hydroxide can be usedfor the trimethylsilanyl group removal. The reaction can be carried outin a suitable solvent such as methanol, tetrahydrofuran, water or themixtures thereof at room temperature for several hours.

Hydrolysis of compound LIX gives the compound of interest of formula In.The reaction can be carried out in the presence of an aqueous inorganicbase such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, in an inertsolvent such as 1,4-dioxane or tetrahydrofuran, at room temperature forseveral hours.

Compound Io can be prepared according to Scheme 12. The intermediate LXIis formed by methylation of compound LX under strongly basic conditions.Further hydrolysis of the ester LXI gives compound Io.

Conversion of compound LX to its peralkylated derivative LXI can beachieved with methyl iodide (XXXI) in the presence of an excess amountof a strong base such as sodium hydride in an inert solvent such asN,N-dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran or dichloromethane for severalhours.

Hydrolysis of compound LXI gives the compound of interest of formula Io.The reaction can be carried out in the presence of an aqueous inorganicbase such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, in an inertsolvent such as 1,4-dioxane or tetrahydrofuran, at room temperature forseveral hours.

Compounds Ip and Iq can be achieved according to Scheme 13. The compoundof interest Ip can be achieved via a Stille coupling between the bromoderivative LXII and the appropriate vinyl-stannane derivative, followedby an ester hydrolysis reaction. Conversion of the ketone LXIV to thecorresponding gem-difluoride LXVI can be accomplished with nucleophilicfluorinating sources. Hydrolysis of the ethyl ester LXVI affordscompound Iq.

The ketone LXIV can be achieved by a Stille coupling reaction of thecorresponding bromo derivative LXII with the appropriate vinyl-stannanederivative such as tributyl(1-ethoxyalkenyl)tin, and then acidichydrolysis with hydrochloric acid at room temperature to 70° C. for 30minutes to 18 hours in water or a mixture of water and tetrahydrofuran.Stille coupling can be done in the presence of a palladium catalyst suchas tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) palladium(0) (Pd(PPh₃)₄), or[1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II)(PdCl₂(dppf)) in an inert solvent such as dimethylformamide, toluene,dioxane, acetonitrile or mixture of thereof at a temperature between 80and 150° C. for 1 to 18 hours under an argon atmosphere. Alternatively,the reaction can be carried out in the presence of a palladium catalysttris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0) (Pd₂(dba)₃), and the ligandtriphenylarsine (Ph₃As).

Hydrolysis of compound LXIV gives the compound of interest of formulaIp. The reaction can be carried out in the presence of an aqueousinorganic base such as sodium hydroxide, or potassium hydroxide in aninert solvent such as 1,4-dioxane or tetrahydrofuran at room temperaturefor several hours.

Transformation of the ketone LXIV to the gem-difluoride LXVI can becarried out by nucleophilic fluorinating sources such asdiethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST), Bis(2-methoxyethyl)aminosulfurtrifluoride, (CH₃OCH₂CH₂)₂NSF₃ (Deoxo-Fluor reagent),α,α-difluoroamines, or N,N-diethyl-α,α-difluoro-(m-methylbenzyl)amine(DFMBA) in a suitable solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane,or mixtures thereof, at a temperature between room temperature and 180°C. for several hours (reference: Lal, G. S. et al., J. Org. Chem. 64(1999) 7048).

Hydrolysis of compound LXVI gives the compound of interest of formulaIq. The reaction can be carried out in the presence of an aqueousinorganic base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, in aninert solvent such as 1,4-dioxane or tetrahydrofuran, at roomtemperature for several hours.

Compounds Ir and Is can be synthesized as illustrated in Scheme 14. Theaniline intermediate LXIX can be generated by treating compound XIIIwith 3-nitrobenzensulfonyl chloride (LXVII), followed by reduction ofthe nitro group to the corresponding amine group. Sulfonylation of theaniline LXIX, followed by hydrolysis of the ester produces the compoundof interest Ir. Alternatively, acetylation of compound LXIX, followed byhydrolysis affords the compound of interest Is.

Sulfonylation of the amine compound XIII with 3-nitrobenzensulfonylchloride (LXVII) to give the sulfonamide LXVIII can be easilyaccomplished using methods well known to someone skilled in the art. Forexample, the reaction can be carried out in the presence of a base suchas triethylamine, pyridine, or dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl-amine, in asuitable inert solvent such as dichloromethane, acetonitrile,1,4-dioxane, or tetrahydrofuran and mixtures thereof, at roomtemperature for 16 hours.

Reduction of the nitro compound LXVIII to the corresponding aminederivative LXIX can be done using methods well known to someone skilledin the art. For example, zinc reduction can be employed. The reactiontypically is carried out under acidic conditions by using acetic acid,hydrochloric acid, or ammonium chloride in a suitable solvent such asmethanol, ethanol, tetrahydrofuran, water or mixtures thereof, at atemperature between room temperature and reflux temperature of thesolvent used for several hours.

Following the same procedure as the step 1 of this sequence,sulfonylation of the amine compound LXIX with methanesulfonyl chloride(LXX) provides the corresponding methyl sulfonamide. Hydrolysis of thissulfonamide leads to the final compound of interest Ir. The reaction canbe carried out in the presence of an aqueous inorganic base such assodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, in an inert solvent such as1,4-dioxane or tetrahydrofuran, at room temperature for several hours.

In the same fashion, acetylation of the amine compound LXIX with acetylchloride (LXXI) can be carried out in the presence of a base such astriethylamine, pyridine, or dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl-amine in a suitableinert solvent such as dichloromethane, acetonitrile, 1,4-dioxane, ortetrahydrofuran and mixtures thereof, at room temperature for 16 hours.Further hydrolysis of the above acetylated compound produces thecompound of interest Is. The reaction can be carried out in the presenceof an aqueous inorganic base such as sodium hydroxide or potassiumhydroxide, in an inert solvent such as 1,4-dioxane or tetrahydrofuran,at room temperature for several hours.

The compound of interest It can be generated directly from compoundLXXII as shown in Scheme 15. This process is similar to that outlined inScheme 6, except in this case the acid as product is directly generatedfrom the Suzuki coupling reaction. The coupling reaction between thebromo compound LXXII and cyclopropylboronic acid (LXXIII) in thepresence of water produces compound It.

The reaction of cyclopropylboronic acid (LXXIII) with compound LXXII(which can be prepared according to scheme 4) to give compound It can beeasily carried out under Suzuki coupling conditions in the presence of apalladium catalyst such as palladium acetate,[1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II)(PdCl₂(dppf)) or tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (Pd(PPh₃)₄),with a phosphine ligand (such as triphenylphosphine, ortricyclohexylphosphine) and a base such as potassium tert-butoxide,potassium phosphate, sodium carbonate, or sodium hydroxide, in an inertsolvent such as N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, toluene,ethanol, tetrahydrofuran, water or mixtures thereof, at a temperaturebetween 130 and 180° C. for 15 to 30 minutes under microwaveirradiation. Alternatively, the reaction can be carried out without theuse of a microwave at a decreased temperature such as 130° C. for alonger reaction time (reference: Wallace, D. J. et al., TetrahedronLett. 43 (2002) 6987).

Compound of interest Iu can be prepared according to Scheme 16. In thissequence, formation of the N-methylation derivative is different fromthat of Scheme 4 only in that the starting material is an acid insteadof an ester. N-Methylation of LXXIV with methyl iodide (XXXI) gives thecorresponding N-methylated methyl ester LXXV. Hydrolysis of LXXVproduces compound Iu.

N-methylation of the acid compound LXXIV to produce the N-methylatedmethyl ester LXXV can be achieved by treating LXXIV with methyl iodide(XXXI) in the presence of a weak base such as potassium carbonate orsodium carbonate, in an inert solvent such as N,N-dimethylformamide,acetonitrile or tetrahydrofuran, at 65° C. for several hours.

Hydrolysis of the ester LXXV gives the compound of interest Iu. Thereaction can be carried out in the presence of an aqueous inorganic basesuch as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, in an inert solventsuch as 1,4-dioxane or tetrahydrofuran, at room temperature for severalhours.

EXAMPLES

Although certain exemplary embodiments are depicted and describedherein, the compounds of the present invention can be prepared usingappropriate starting materials according to the methods describedgenerally herein and/or by methods available to one of ordinary skill inthe art.

Materials and Instrumentation in General

Intermediates and final compounds were purified by either flashchromatography and/or preparative HPLC (high performance liquidchromatography). Flash chromatography was performed using (1) theBiotage SP1™ system and the Quad 12/25 Cartridge module (from BiotageAB) or (2) the ISCO CombiFlash® chromatography instrument (from TeledyneIsco, Inc.); unless otherwise noted. The silica gel brand and pore sizeutilized were: (1) KP-SIL™ 60 Å, particle size: 40-60 micron (fromBiotage AB); (2) Silica Gel CAS registry No: 63231-67-4, particle size:47-60 micron; or (3) ZCX from Qingdao Haiyang Chemical Co., Ltd, poresize: 200-300 mesh or 300-400 mesh. Preparative HPLC was performed on areversed phase column using an Xbridge™ Prep C₁₈ (5 m, OBD™ 30×100 mm)column (from Waters Corporation), or a SunFire™ Prep C₁₈ (5 m, OBD™30×100 mm) column (from Waters Corporation)

Mass spectrometry (MS) was performed using a Waters® Alliance®2795-ZQ™2000 (from Waters Corporation). Mass spectra data generally onlyindicates the parent ions unless otherwise stated. MS data is providedfor a particular intermediate or compound where indicated.

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) was performed using aBruker Avance™ 400 MHZ Digital NMR Spectrometer (for the ¹H NMR spectrumacquired at 400 MHz) (from Bruker BioSpin AG Ltd.). NMR data is providedfor a particular intermediate or compound where indicated.

The microwave assisted reactions were carried out in a BiotageInitiator™ Sixty (or its early models) (from Biotage AB).

Chiral separation was performed by Preparative HPLC. Preparative HPLCwas performed using an Agilent 1200 HPLC with a Chiral Pak® IA (5 m,20×250 mm) column and a Chiral Pak® AS-H (5 m, 20×250 mm) column bothfrom Daicel Chiral Technologies (China) co., Ltd.

All reactions involving air-sensitive reagents were performed under aninert atmosphere. Reagents were used as received from commercialsuppliers unless otherwise noted.

Part I Preparation of Preferred Intermediates Preparation of((R)-4-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester(IIa) and ((S)-4-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acidethyl ester (IIb)

(4-Oxo-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester (VII)

To a solution of cyclohexane-1,3-dione (50.7 g, 452 mmol) inN,N-dimethylformamide (700 mL) was added ethyl hydrazinoacetatehydrochloride (70 g, 452 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred for 5minutes before addition of dimethoxymethyl-dimethyl-amine (53.9 g, 452mmol). The reaction mixture was divided into 50 vials, which were heatedin a microwave at 190° C. for 2 minutes. After cooling to roomtemperature, the combined reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo toremove most of the N,N-dimethylformamide. Water (200 mL) was added, andthe resulting dark brown mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (200mL×3). The organic layers were combined, washed with brine (600 mL),dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to afford a brownoil, which was placed in a fridge overnight. The resulting yellowprecipitate was filtered and washed with petroleum ether to give(4-oxo-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester (79 g,79%) as yellow crystals. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.92 (s, 1H),4.89 (s, 2H), 4.26 (m, 2H), 2.80 (t, J=6.4 Hz, 2H), 2.51 (t, J=6.4 Hz,2H), 2.20 (t, J=6.4 Hz, 2H), 1.31 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H). MS calcd. forC₁₁H₁₄N₂O₃ 222, obsd. (ESI⁺) (M+H)⁺223.

(4-Hydroxyimino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester(IX)

To a stirred solution of 4-oxo-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester (222 mg, 1.0 mmol) in ethanol (10 mL) was addedhydroxylamine hydrochloride salt (74 mg, 1.05 mmol). The reactionmixture was heated at reflux for 1 hour. After cooling to roomtemperature, a solution of concentrated ammonia and saturated ammoniumchloride (10 mL, 1:5, v/v) was added to the reaction mixture. Theresulting solution was extracted with ethyl acetate (25 mL×3). Thecombined organic layers were washed with brine (30 mL), dried oversodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give4-hydroxyimino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester(203 mg, 85%) as a white solid, which was used for the next step withoutfurther purification. The above white solid contained a pair of isomersin 10 to 1 ratio as determined by ¹HNMR. For the major isomer, ¹H NMR(400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 8.29 (s, 1H), 4.89 (s, 2H), 4.26 (m, 2H), 2.73(t, J=6.4 Hz, 2H), 2.58 (t, J=6.4 Hz, 2H), 2.10 (t, J=6.4 Hz, 2H), 1.31(t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H). MS calcd. for C₁₁H₁₅N₃O₃ 237, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺]:238.

(4-Amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester (XIII)

To a solution of (4-hydroxyimino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester (132 mg, 0.59 mmol), sodium cyanoborohydride (110 mg,1.76 mmol), and ammonium acetate (0.5 g, 7.2 mmol) in methanol (10 mL)was added titanium (III) chloride (0.99 mL, 20% wt in water, 1.68 mmol)dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2hours under an argon atmosphere. To the above mixture were added water(10 mL) and a solution of concentrated ammonia and saturated ammoniumchloride (10 mL, 1:5, v/v). The resulting mixture was filtered through apad of Celite® (a diatomite filter from World Minerals Inc.) and washedwith dichloromethane (30 mL). The separated aqueous layer was extractedwith dichloromethane (20 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washedwith brine (30 mL), dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuoto afford 4-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethylester (131 mg, 99%) as a viscous light brown oil. ¹H NMR (400 MHz,CD₃OD) δ ppm 7.76 (s, 1H), 5.34 (s, 2H), 4.60 (m, 2H), 4.34 (m, 2H),2.70 (m, 2H), 2.20 (m, 1H), 1.98 (m, 3H), 1.32 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H). MScalcd. for C₁₁H₁₇N₃O₂ 223, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 224.

((R)-4-Benzyloxycarbonylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester (XVa) and((S)-4-Benzyloxycarbonylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester (XVb)

To a solution of (4-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acidethyl ester (60 mg, 0.27 mmol) in 5% sodium carbonate (0.57 mL) and1,4-dioxane (1 mL) was added benzyl chloroformate (58 μL, 0.40 mmol) at0° C. The reaction was allowed to warm to room temperature slowly, andstirred overnight. The reaction mixture was partitioned between water(10 mL) and dichloromethane (20 mL×3). The combined organic layers werecollected and dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated invacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography (50% ethylacetate in hexanes) to afford racemic4-benzyloxycarbonylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acidethyl ester (94.2 mg, 98.2%) as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δppm 7.54 (s, 1H), 7.49-7.35 (m, 4H), 5.18 (s, 2H), 5.23 (s, 2H),4.92-4.80 (m, 3H), 4.23 (dd, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.52 (m, 2H), 2.05-1.88 (m,4H), 1.30 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H). MS calcd. for C₁₉H₂₃N₃O₄ 357, obsd. (ESI⁺)[(M+H)⁺] 358. Chiral separation (Gilson instrument: column: DaicelCHIRALPAK® AS-H; flow rate: 15 mL/min; gradient: 55% hexane inpropan-2-ol) gave((R)-4-benzyloxycarbonyl-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester (retention time 7.2 minutes) and((S)-4-benzyloxycarbonylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester (retention time 8.7 minutes). The recovery for bothisomers together was 70%. It is noted that the absolute stereochemistryof the R-configuration of the intermediates and compounds of the presentinvention was further confirmed by X-ray crystallography of(R)-[4-(3-Bromo-5-tert-butyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester which was capable of being crystallized.

((R)-4-Amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester(IIa)

A solution of((R)-4-benzyloxycarbonylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester (357 mg, 1.0 mmol) in ethanol was hydrogenolyzed over10% palladium on carbon (40 mg) under atmospheric pressure at roomtemperature for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was then filtered througha pad of Celite® (diatomite filter). The filtrate was collected, andconcentrated in vacuo to afford((R)-4-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester(224 mg, 99%) as a light yellow oil. MS calcd. for C₁₁H₁₇N₃O₂ 223, obsd.(ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 224.

((S)-4-Amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester(IIb)

A solution of ((S)-4-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acidethyl ester (357 mg, 1.0 mmol) in ethanol was hydrogenated over 10% Pd/C(40 mg) under atmospheric pressure at room temperature for 3 hours. Thereaction mixture was then filtered through a pad of Celite® (diatomitefilter). The filtrate was collected, and concentrated in vacuo to afford((S)-4-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester(224 mg, 99%). MS calcd. for C₁₁H₁₇N₃O₂ 223, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 224.

Alternatively, ((R)-4-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acidethyl ester (IIa) and((S)-4-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester(IIb) can be synthesized according to Scheme 2. The detailedexperimental procedures are described below.

((S)-4-Hydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester(XVIII)

To a stirred solution of (4-oxo-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester (16.7 g, 75.0 mmol) in formic acid-triethylamineazeotropes (molar fraction of triethylamine: 0.2857, 45 mL) was addedchloro-[(1S,2S)—N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-1,2-diphenylethanediamine](mesitylene)ruthenium(II) (1.86 g, 3.0 mmol). The reaction mixture wasstirred at room temperature for 3 hours and then at 45° C. for 2.5 hourswith occasional venting. After cooling to room temperature, 1Nhydrochloric acid (50 mL) was added, followed by extraction with ethylacetate (200 mL×3). The separated organic layers were combined, washedwith brine (300 mL), dried over sodium sulfate, filtered andconcentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography(gradient elution, 0-4% methanol in dichloromethane) to afford((S)-4-hydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester(14.3 g, 85%) as a white solid with enantiomeric purity 99% asdetermined by Chiralpak™ IA column (condition: gradient: 50% hexane inethanol, flow rate: 15 mL/min and retention time: 5.8 min for enantiomerA and 8.1 min for enantiomer B). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 7.47 (s,1H), 4.89 (d, 4H), 4.76 (d, 1H), 4.20 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.52 (m, 2H),2.06-1.84 (m, 4H), 1.29 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H). MS calcd. for C₁₁H₁₆N₂O₃ 224,obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 225.

((R)-4-Azido-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester(XXIa) and ((S)-4-Azido-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acidethyl ester (XXIb)

A oven dried flask was charged with((S)-4-hydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester(14.3 g, 63.8 mmol), phosphorazidic acid diphenyl ester (DPPA) (15.1 mL,70.1 mmol) and anhydrous toluene (100 mL). The mixture was cooled to −6°C. in an ice bath. 1,8-Diazabicyclo[5,4,0]-undec-7-ene (DBU) (9.53 mL,63.8 mmol) was added dropwise, while maintaining the internaltemperature of the reaction below 5° C. The reaction mixture was stirredbelow 10° C. for 16 hours. After the reaction was complete, a solutionof saturated ammonium chloride (50 mL) was added, and the aqueous layerwas extracted with dichloromethane (100 mL×3). The combined organiclayers were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated invacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography (gradientelution, 15-30% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether) to afford a mixture oftwo enantiomers (10.7 g, 67.4%, the ratio of (R)-enantiomer to(S)-enantiomer was 8:2 which was determined by HPLC with Chiralpak™ IAcolumn).

The two enantiomers were further separated by HPLC using a Chiralpak™ IAcolumn (separation condition: gradient: 70% hexane in ethanol; flowrate: 15 mL/min; retention time: 7.4 min for (R)-enantiomer and 8.9 minfor (S)-enantiomer) to afford((R)-4-azido-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester(7.1 g, e.e. %≧99%) as a viscous oil. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 7.51(s, 1H), 4.91 (s, 4H), 4.63 (s, 1H), 4.20 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.52 (m,2H), 1.97-1.88 (m, 4H), 1.29 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H). MS calcd. for C₁₁H₁₅N₅O₂249, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 250.

((R)-4-Amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester(IIa)

A solution of ((R)-4-azido-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acidethyl ester (1.25 g, 5.0 mmol) in ethanol (40 mL) was hydrogenated over10% Pd/C (130 mg) under 30 psi in a 150 mL Parr bottle at roomtemperature for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was filtered through a padof Celite® (diatomite filter). The filtrate was collected andconcentrated in vacuo to afford((R)-4-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester asan oil (1.10 g, 98%), which was used in the next step without furtherpurification. MS calcd. for C₁₁H₁₇N₃O₂ 223, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 224.

Preparation of (R)-3-(4-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-propionicacid methyl ester (III)

(R)-[1-(2-Hydroxy-ethyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indazol-4-yl]-carbamicacid benzyl ester (XXIII)

To a solution of((R)-4-benzyloxycarbonylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester (2.00 g, 5.60 mmol) in methanol (150 mL) was addedsodium borohydride (1.61 g, 39.5 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 70°C. for 2 hours. After being cooled to room temperature, the reactionmixture was acidified to pH 7 with 5N hydrochloric acid, and thenconcentrated to remove methanol. The resulting mixture was extractedwith dichloromethane (20 mL). After filtering out any insolublematerials from the organic layer, the filtrate was concentrated in vacuoto give(R)-[1-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indazol-4-yl]-carbamicacid benzyl ester (1.68 g, 95%) as a white solid. MS calcd. forC₁₇H₂₁N₃O₃ 315, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 316.

Methanesulfonic acid2((R)-4-benzyloxycarbonylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindazol-1-yl)-ethylester (XXV)

To a solution of(R)-[1-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indazol-4-yl]-carbamicacid benzyl ester (755 mg, 2.40 mmol) and pyridine (1.45 mL, 18.0 mmol)in dichloromethane was added methanesulfonyl chloride (1.40 mL, 18 mmol)dropwise at 0° C. The mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirredfor 6 hours. The resulting mixture was poured into ice (10 g). Theorganic layer was then separated and washed with 0.1 N hydrochloric acidand saturated sodium bicarbonate, dried over sodium sulfate, filteredand concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by columnchromatography (10% methanol in dichloromethane) to affordmethanesulfonic acid2-((R)-4-benzyloxycarbonylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindazol-1-yl)-ethylester (880 mg, 90%) as a white solid. MS calcd. for C₁₈H₂₃N₃O₅S 393,obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 394.

(R)-[1-(2-Cyano-ethyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indazol-4-yl]-carbamic acidbenzyl ester (XXVII)

To a solution of methanesulfonic acid2((R)-4-benzyloxycarbonylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindazol-1-yl)-ethylester (850 mg, 2.16 mmol) in dimethyl sulfoxide (20 mL) was added sodiumcyanide (540 mg, 10.8 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 55° C. for 4hours. After cooling, to the mixture was added water, and the aqueouslayer was extracted with ethyl acetate (20 mL×4). The combined organiclayers were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and then concentrated invacuo. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (10%methanol in dichloromethane) to afford(R)-[1-(2-cyano-ethyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indazol-4-yl]-carbamic acidbenzyl ester (600 mg, 85%) as a white solid. MS calcd. for C₁₈H₂₀N₄O₂324, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 325.

(R)-3-(4-Benzyloxycarbonylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-propionicacid methyl ester (XXVIII)

A solution of(R)-[1-(2-cyano-ethyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indazol-4-yl]-carbamic acidbenzyl ester (700 mg, 1.96 mmol) in 2M solution of hydrogen chloride inmethanol (60 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 32 hours. After thereaction was complete, the pH of the reaction mixture was adjusted to7.5-8 with solid sodium bicarbonate, and then solvent was removed invacuo. To the residue was added dichloromethane. Filtration andconcentration gave(R)-3-(4-benzyloxycarbonyl-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-propionicacid methyl ester (770 mg, 99%) as a yellow solid. MS calcd. forC₁₉H₂₃N₃O₄ 357, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 358.

(R)-3-(4-Amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-propionic acid methylester (III)

A solution of(R)-3-(4-benzyloxycarbonyl-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-propionicacid methyl ester (150 mg, 0.42 mmol) in methanol was hydrogenolyzedover 10% palladium on carbon (30 mg) under atmospheric pressure at roomtemperature for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was filtered and thefiltrate was concentrated in vacuo to give(R)-3-(4-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-propionic acid methylester (93 mg, 99%) as a yellow oil, MS calcd. for C₁₁H₁₇N₃O₂ 223, obsd.(ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 224.

Preparation of 3-methoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl chloride

3-Methoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-phenylamine (10 g, 54 mmol) was mixed withtrifluoroacetic acid (100 mL) in a 250 mL flask. After being cooled to0° C., to the mixture was slowly added concentrated hydrochloric acid(10 mL), and then added a solution of sodium nitrite (4.7 g, 68 mmol) inwater (5 mL) dropwise over 20 min at 0° C. The mixture was stirred foranother 10 minutes after the addition and then poured into a stirredmixture of acetic acid (120 mL), sulfurous acid (0.94 N aqueous sulfurdioxide solution, 120 mL), copper(II) chloride (9.2 g) and copper(I)chloride (100 mg) at 0° C. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm toroom temperature and stirred for 15 hours, and then water (200 mL) wasadded. The aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (100 mL×3).The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate, filteredthrough a glass funnel and concentrated in vacuo. The residue waspurified by column chromatography (20% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether)to afford 3-methoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl chloride (3.9 g,26.4%) as a white solid (reference: Cherney, R. J. et al., J. Med. Chem.46 (2003) 1811). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 7.89 (s, 1H); 7.70 (s,1H); 7.50 (s, 1H); 4.00 (s, 3H).

The following examples were prepared in an analogous manner as describedfor 3-methoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl chloride starting fromcommercially available substituted phenyl amines.

Starting amine Sulfonyl chloride ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm4-Fluoro-3- 4-Fluoro-3-trifluoromethyl- 8.35-8.37 (d, J = 6.0 Hz, 1 H);8.29-8.33 (m, 1 H); 7.50- trifluoromethyl- Benzenesulfonyl chloride 7.54(t, J = 6.0 Hz, 1 H) Phenylamine 3-Fluoro-5- 3-Fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-8.15 (s, 1 H); 7.97-7.99 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 1 H); 7.74-7.76trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonyl chloride (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 1 H)phenylamine 4-Methoxy-3- 4-Methoxy-3-trifluoromethyl- 8.26 (s, 1H);8.22-8.24 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1 H); 7.21-7.23 (d, trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl chloride J = 8.8 Hz, 1 H); 4.00 (s, 3 H) phenylamine

Preparation of 3,5-di-tert-butyl-benzenesulfonyl chloride

Chlorosulfonic acid (4 mL) was added to 1,3,5-tri-tert-butyl-benzene(1.5 g, 6.1 mmol) which had been cooled to 0° C. After being stirred at0° C. for 30 minutes, the mixture was warmed to room temperature andstirred for 1 hour. Then the mixture was poured into ice water (50 mL)and extracted with dichloromethane (20 mL×3). The combined organiclayers were dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. Theresidue was purified by column chromatography (gradient elution: 0-20%ethyl acetate in petroleum ether) to afford3,5-di-tert-butyl-benzenesulfonyl chloride (880 mg, 50%) as a yellowsolid (reference: Guthrie, R. D. et al. Aust. J. Chem. 40 (1987) 2133).

Part II Preparation of Specific Compounds Example 1-1[(R)-4-(3-Bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester

To a solution of ((R)-4-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester (446 mg, 2.0 mmol) and3-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl chloride (970 mg, 3.0 mmol) intetrahydrofuran (5 mL) was added a solution ofdimethyl-pyridin-4-yl-amine (489 mg, 4.0 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (5 mL)dropwise. After being stirred at room temperature overnight, the mixturewas concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography(gradient elution, 0-5% methanol in dichloromethane) to afford[(R)-4-(3-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (750 mg, 63.6%) as a white solid. MS calcd. forC₁₈H₁₉BrF₃N₃O₄S 509, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 510.

Examples 1-2 to 1-21

The following examples 1-2 to 1-18 were prepared in an analogous manneras described for example 1-1 using(4-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester or itsR form,3-(4-benzyloxycarbonyl-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-propionicacid methyl ester or its R form, and the appropriate commerciallyavailable benzene sulfonyl chlorides.

Example MS (ESI+, No. Systematic Name M + H) Structure 1-2[4-(3,5-Dichloro- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 432

1-3 [4-(2,4-Dichloro- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 432

1-4 [(R)-4-(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 500

1-5 [4-(4-Methyl-3-nitro- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 423

1-6 [4-(3,5-Dimethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 392

1-7 [4-(3-Bromo-5-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 510

1-8 [4-(4-Bromo-3-fluoro- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 432

1-9 [4-(4-Bromo-3-methyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 456

1-10 [4-(4-Bromo-3-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 510

1-11 [4-(5-Bromo-6-chloro-pyridine-3- sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 477

1-12 [(R)-4-(3-Methoxy-5- trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acidethyl ester 462

1-13 [4-(2,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 500

1-14 [4-(3-Methanesulfonyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 442

1-15 [4-(4-Methoxy-3-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 462

1-16 [(R)-4-(3,5-Bis-methanesulfonyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 520

1-17 [4-(3-Chloro-4-methyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 412

1-18 3-[(R)-4-(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-propionic acid methyl ester 500

Example 1-1a[(R)-4-(3-Bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid

To a solution of[(R)-4-(3-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (18.0 mg, 0.035 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (2 mL) wasadded an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (1 N, 2 mL). The resultingmixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours, then extracted withdiethyl ether (6 mL). The organic layer was discarded. The aqueous layerwas acidified with concentrated hydrochloric acid to pH 4 and thenstirred with diethyl ether (2 mL) and petroleum ether (6 mL) at roomtemperature for 2 hours. The resulting mixture was filtered to afford[(R)-4-(3-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid (13.3 mg, 78.8%) as a white powder. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm8.34 (s, 1H), 8.20 (s, 2H), 6.81 (s, 1H), 4.80 (s, 2 H), 4.48 (t, 1H),2.50 (m, 2H), 2.00-1.72 (m, 4H). MS calcd. for C₁₆H₁₅BrF₃N₃O₄S 481,obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 482.

Examples 1-2a to 1-18a

The following examples 1-2a to 1-18a were prepared in an analogousmanner as described for example 1-1a using the corresponding esters.

MS Example ¹H NMR (400 MHz, (ESI+, No. Systematic Name CD₃OD) δ ppm M +H) Structure 1-2a [4-(3,5-Dichloro- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl]acetic acid 7.90 (d, 2 H), 7.81 (t, 1H), 6.81 (s, 1 H), 4.77 (s, 2 H), 4.45 (t, 1 H), 2.50 (m, 2 H),1.99-1.77 (m, 4 H) 404

1-3a* [4-(2,4-Dichloro- benzenesulfonylamino)- 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid 8.39 (d, J = 8.59 Hz, 1 H), 8.04 (d, J = 8.59Hz, 1 H), 7.92 (d, J = 2.02 Hz, 1 H), 7.65 (dd, J = 8.46, 2.15 Hz, 1 H),6.89 (s, 1 H), 4.77 (s, 1 H), 4.27 (d, J = 1.52 Hz, 1 H), 4.08 (s, 1 H),2.39 (s., 2 H), 1.90 (s, 1 H), 1.70 (s., 1 H), 1.58 (d, J = 7.33 Hz, 2H) 404

1-4a [(R)-4-(3,5-Bis- trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid 8.49 (s, 2 H), 8.34 (s, 1H), 6.82 (s, 1 H), 4.81 (s, 2 H), 4.50 (t, 1 H), 2.50 (m, 2 H),1.95-1.74 (m, 4 H) 472

1-5a [4-(4-Methyl-3-nitro- benzenesulfonylamino)- 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid 8.47 (s, 1 H), 8.10 (d, 1 H), 7.72 (d, 1 H),6.86 (s, 1 H), 4.80 (s, 2 H), 4.43 (t, 1 H), 2.69 (s, 3 H), 2.55 (m, 2H) 395

1-6a [4-(3,5-Dimethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)- 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid 7.56 (s, 2 H), 7.34 (s, 1 H), 6.55 (s, 1 H),4.80 (s, 2 H), 4.35 (t, 1 H), 2.54 (m, 2 H), 2.44 (s., 6 H), 1.95 (m, 1H), 1.77 (m, 3 H) 364

1-7a [4-(3-Bromo-5- trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid 8.37 (s, 1 H), 8.19 (s, 2H), 6.80 (s, 1 H), 4.79 (s, 2 H), 4.45 (t, 1 H), 2.63-2.46 (m, 2 H),2.00-1.89- 2.00 (m, 1 H), 1.87- 1.69 (m, 3 H) 482

1-8a [4-(4-Bromo-3-fluoro- benzenesulfonylamino)- 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]acetic acid 7.94 (q, 1 H), 7.79 (q, 1 H), 7.70 (q, 1 H),6.82 (s, 1 H), 4.78 (d, 2 H), 4.44 (t, H), 2.50 (m, 2 H), 2.01-1.74 (m,4 H). 432

1-9a [4-(4-Bromo-3-methyl- benzenesulfonylamino)- 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid 7.87 (s, 1 H), 7.81 (d, 1 H), 7.66 (d, 1 H),6.65 (s, 1 H), 4.69 (s, 2 H), 4.38 (t, 1 H), 2.61-2.44 (m, 5 H),1.99-1.89 (m, 1 H), 1.84-1.69 (m, 3 H) 428

1-10a [4-(4-Bromo-3- trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid 8.27 (s, 1 H), 8.14- 8.02(m, 2 H), 6.88- 6.78 (m, 1 H), 4.84- 4.75 (m, 2 H), 4.44 (t, 1 H)2.63-2.45 (m, 2 H), 1.99-1.90 (m, 1 H), 1.87-1.65 (m, 3 H) 482

1-11a [4-(5-Bromo-6-chloro- pyridine-3- sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]- acetic acid 8.86 (d, 1 H), 8.59 (d, 1 H), 6.96(s, 1 H), 4.82 (s, 2 H), 4.52 (t, 1 H), 2.64- 2.47 (m, 2 H), 2.00- 1.91(m, 1 H), 1.89- 1.78 (m, 2 H), 1.78- 1.69 (m, 1 H) 449

1-12a [(R)-4-(3-Methoxy-5- trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl]acetic acid 7.78 (s, 1 H), 7.71 (s, 1H), 7.49 (s, 1 H), 6.72-6.66 (m, 1 H), 5.52 (s, 1 H), 4.76- 4.67 (m, 2H), 4.42 (t, 1 H), 3.98 (s, 3 H), 2.62-2.44 (m, 2 H), 1.99-1.89 (m, 1H), 1.79 (m, 3 H) 434

1-13a [4-(2,5-Bis- trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid 8.54 (s, 1 H), 8.21 (q, 2H), 7.64 (s, 1 H), 5.03 (s, 2 H), 4.59 (t, 1 H), 2.71- 2.61 (m, 2 H),2.10- 2.00 (m, 1 H), 1.93- 1.71 (m, 3 H) 472

1-14a [4-(3-Methanesulfonyl- benzenesulfonylamino)- 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]acetic acid 8.47 (s, 1 H), 8.30 (t, 2 H), 7.93 (t, 1 H),7.57 (s 1 H), 5.06 (s, 2 H), 4.52 (t, 1 H), 3.23 (s, 3 H), 2.67 (d, 2H), 2.01-1.70 (m, 4 H) 414

1-15a [4-(4-Methoxy-3- trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid 8.17 (d, 1 H), 8.11 (s, 1H), 7.74 (d, 1 H), 6.78 (s, 1 H), 4.75 (s, 2 H), 4.36 (t, 1 H), 4.04 (s,3 H), 2.50 (m, 2 H), 2.00- 1.75 (m, 4 H). 434

1-16a [(R)-4-(3,5-Bis- methanesulfonyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid 8.71 (s, 3 H), 6.81 (s, 1H), 4.77 (s, 2 H), 4.51 (t, 1 H), 3.27 (s, 6 H), 2.61- 2.42 (m, 2 H),1.98- 1.76 (m, 4 H) 492

1-17a [4-(3-Chloro-4-methyl- benzenesulfonylamino)- 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]acetic acid 7.89 (s, 1 H), 7.73 (d, 1 H), 7.51 (d, 1 H),6.66 (s, 1 H), 4.69 (s, 2 H), 4.34 (s, 1 H), 2.61-2.40 (m, 5 H),1.96-1.84 (m, 1 H), 1.82-1.65 (m, 3 H) 384

1-18a 3-[(R)-4-(3,5-Bis- trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl]-propionic acid 8.43 (s, 2 H), 8.29 (s,1 H), 6.73 (s, 1 H), 4.20 (t, 1 H), 4.15 (t, 2 H), 2.75 (m, 2 H),2.71-2.53 (m, 2 H) 1.87-1.67 (m, 4 H) 486

*The solvent used for ¹H NMR was DMSO-d6.

{(R)-4-[(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

To a solution of(R)-{[4-(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (example 1-5, prepared by the method analogous to theone described for example 1-1, 48.6 mg, 0.100 mmol) in acetonitrile (3mL) was added potassium carbonate (27.6 mg, 0.200 mmol) and methyliodide (9.5 μL, 0.150 mmol). After being heated at 70° C. under an argonatmosphere for 6 hours, the reaction mixture was cooled to roomtemperature, filtered through a glass funnel and concentrated in vacuo.The residue was purified by column chromatography (gradient elution,0-5% methanol in dichloro-methane) to afford{(R)-4-[(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (42.6 mg, 83%) as a white solid. MS cald. (calculated)for C₂₀H₂₁F₆N₃O₄S 513, obsd. (observed) (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 514.

Examples 2-2 to 2-8

The following examples 2-2 to 2-8 were prepared in an analogous manneras described for example 2-1 using the appropriate ester intermediates.

Example No. Systematic Name MS (ESI+, M + H) Structure 2-2{(R)-4-[(4-Bromo-2-chloro- benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl}-acetic acid ethyl ester 490

2-3 {(R)-4-[(2-Chloro-4- trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl}-acetic acid ethyl ester 480

2-4 {(R)-4-[(4-Bromo-2-fluoro- benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl}-acetic acid ethyl ester 474

2-5 {(R)-4-[(3-Bromo-5- trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl}-acetic acid ethyl ester 524

2-6 {(R)-4-[(3,5-Dibromo- benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl}-acetic acid ethyl ester 534

2-7 {(R)-4-[(3,5-Di-tert-butyl- benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl}-acetic acid ethyl ester 490

2-8 3-{(R)-4-[(3,5-Bis- trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl}-propionic acid methyl ester 514

Example 2-1a{(R)-4-[(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid

Starting with{(R)-4-[(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester, using the method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,{(R)-4-[(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid (10.2 mg, 68.6%) was obtained as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz,CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.46 (s, 2H), 8.35 (s, 1H), 6.72 (s, 1H), 5.21 (t, 1H),4.82 (s, 2H), 2.67 (s, 3H), 2.52 (m, 2H), 2.00-1.64 (m, 4H). MS cald.for C₁₈H₁₇F₆N₃O₄S 485, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 486.

Examples 2-2a to 2-8a

The following examples 2-2a to 2-8a were prepared in an analogous manneras described for example 1-1a using the corresponding esters.

MS Example ¹H NMR (400 MHz, (ESI+, No. Systematic Name CD₃OD) δ ppm M +H) Acid structures 2-2a {(R)-4-[(4-Bromo-2- chloro-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}- acetic acid 8.07 (d, 1H), 7.94 (s, 1 H), 7.73 (d, 1 H), 7.14 (s, 1 H), 4.99 (t, 1 H), 4.82 (s,2 H), 2.73 (s, 3 H), 2.56 (s, 2 H), 2.11- 2.03 (m, 1 H), 2.01- 1.89 (m,1 H), 1.843- 1.73 (m, 2 H) 462

2-3a {(R)-4-[(2-Chloro-4- trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}- acetic acid 8.39 (d, 1H), 8.06 (s, 1 H), 7.86 (d 1 H), 7.15 (s, 1 H), 5.04 (s, 1 H), 4.81 (s,2 H), 2.77 (s, 3 H), 2.58 (s, 2 H), 2.08- 1.77 (m, 4 H); 452

2-4a {(R)-4-[(4-Bromo-2- fluoro-benzenesulfonyl)- methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}- acetic acid 7.89 (t, 1 H), 7.71 (d, 1 H), 7.62(d, 1 H), 6.89 (s, 1 H), 5.10-5.04 (m, 1 H), 4.74 (s, 2 H), 2.72 (s, 3H), 2.56 (s, 2 H), 2.11- 1.99 (m, 1 H), 1.91- 1.69 (m, 3 H) 446

2-5a {(R)-4-[(3-Bromo-5- trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}- acetic acid 8.38 (s, 1H), 8.24 (s, 1 H), 8.17 (s, 1 H), 6.65 (s, 1 H), 5.15-5.20 (m, 1 H),4.85 (s, 2 H), 2.68 (s, 3 H), 2.63-2.48 (m, 2 H), 2.09-1.99(m, 1 H),1.89-1.76 (m, 2 H), 1.74-1.62 (m, 1 H) 496

2-6a {(R)-4-[(3,5-Dibromo- benzenesulfonyl)- methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}- acetic acid 8.12 (s, 1 H), 8.08 (d, 2 H), 6.61(s, 1 H), 5.50 (s, 1 H), 5.16-5.07 (m, 1 H), 4.83 (s, 2 H), 2.67 (s, 3H), 2.63-2.48 (m, 2 H), 2.10-2.00 (m, 2 H), 1.90-1.76 (m, 2 H) 506

2-7a {(R)-4-[(3,5-Di-tert- butyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}- acetic acid 7.82 (t, 1H), 7.75 (d, 2 H), 6.02 (s, 1 H), 5.08- 4.99 (m, 1 H), 4.79 (s, 2 H),2.60 (s, 3 H), 2.57- 2.44 (m, 2 H), 2.08- 1.95 (m, 1 H), 1.91- 1.73 (m,2 H), 1.71- 1.62 (m, 1 H), 1.40- 1.37 (s, 18 H) 462

2-8a 3-{(R)-4-[(3,5-Bis- trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}- propionic acid 8.44 (s,2 H), 8.34 (s, 1 H), 6.57 (s, 1 H), 5.21- 5.09 (m, 1 H), 4.18 (t, 2 H)2.78 (t, 2 H), 2.74- 2.51 (m, 5 H), 2.14 (s, 2 H), 2.00 (s, 1 H), 1.83-1.68 (m, 2 H), 1.60 (t, 1 H), 500

Example 3-1[4-(3-Ethoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester

[4-(3-Fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (prepared by the method analogous to example 1-1, 200mg, 0.44 mmol), sodium hydride (60% dispersed in mineral oil, 89 mg,2.22 mmol) and ethanol (202 mg, 4.4 mmol) were dissolved inN,N-dimethylformamide (2 mL). The mixture was heated in a microwave ovenat 150° C. for 40 minutes. The resulting mixture was acidified with 0.1Nhydrochloric acid to pH 5 and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organiclayers were washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate andconcentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash column(gradient elution, 0-5% methanol in dichloromethane) to afford[4-(3-ethoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (180 mg, 78%). MS cald. for C₂₀H₂₄F₃N₃O₅S 475, obsd.(ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 476.

Example 3-2 to 3-4

The following examples 3-2 to 3-4 were prepared in an analogous manneras described for example 3-1 using either[4-(5-bromo-6-chloro-pyridine-3-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester or4-(3-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester and the appropriate commercially available alcohols.

MS Example (ESI+, No. Systematic Name M + H) Structure 3-2[4-(5-Bromo-6-ethoxy-pyridine-3- sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 487

3-3 [4-(5-Bromo-6-cyclopentyloxy- pyridine-3-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 527

3-4 [4-(3-Isopropoxy-5-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid ethyl ester 490

Example 3-1a[4-(3-Ethoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid

Starting with[4-(3-ethoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester using the method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,[4-(3-ethoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid (12.0 mg, 50.8%) was obtained as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz,CD₃OD) δ ppm 7.75 (s, 1H), 7.67 (s, 1H), 7.45 (s, 1H), 6.71 (s, 1H),4.78 (s, 2H), 4.41 (t, 2H), 4.21 (q, 2H), 2.57 (t, 2H), 1.83-1.78 (m,4H), 1.47 (s, 3H). MS cald. for C₁₈H₂₀F₃N₃O₅S 447, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺]448.

Example 3-2a to 3-4a

The following examples 3-2a to 3-4a were prepared in an analogous manneras described for example 1-1a using the corresponding esters.

MS Example ¹H NMR (400 MHz, (ESI+, No. Systematic Name CD₃OD) δ ppm M +H) Structure 3-2a [4-(5-Bromo-6- ethoxy-pyridine-3- sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid 8.63 (d, 1 H), 8.36 (s, 1H), 6.90 (s, 1 H), 4.91 (m, 2 H), 4.56 (q, 2 H), 4.44 (t, 1 H), 2.55 (m,2 H), 1.95- 1.75 (m, 4 H), 1.46 (t, 3 H) 459

3-3a [4-(5-Bromo-6- cyclopentyloxy- pyridine-3- sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid 8.58 (d, 1 H), 8.31 (d, 1H), 6.83 (s, 1 H), 5.57 (q, 1 H), 4.76 (s, 2 H), 4.38 (s, 1 H), 2.54 (m,2 H), 2.01- 1.68 (m, 12 H) 499

3-4a [4-(3-Isopropoxy-5- trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid 7.73 (s, 1 H), 7.65 (s, 1H), 7.43 (s, 1 H), 6.68 (s, 1 H), 4.80 (m, 3 H), 4.41 (t, 1 H), 2.55 (t,2 H), 2.00- 1.72 (m, 4 H), 1.38 (d, 6 H) 462

Example 4-1{(R)-4-[(3-Chloro-4-cyclopentyloxy-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

{(R)-4-[(3-Chloro-4-fluoro-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

Starting with(R)-[4-(3-chloro-4-fluoro-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (prepared by a method analogous to the one describedabove for example 1-1) and methyl iodide using the method analogous tothe one described for example 2-1,{(R)-4-[(3-chloro-4-fluoro-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (56 mg, 83.8%) was prepared as a white solid. MS cald.for C₁₈H₂₁ClFN₃O₄S 429, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 430.

{(R)-4-[(3-Chloro-4-cyclopentyloxy-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

Starting with{(R)-4-[(3-chloro-4-fluoro-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester and cyclopentanol using the method analogous to the onedescribed above for example 3-1,{(R)-4-[(3-chloro-4-cyclopentyloxy-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester was obtained. MS cald. for C₂₃H₃₀ClN₃O₅S 495, obsd.(ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 496.

Example 4-2 to 4-4

The following examples 4-2 to 4-4 were prepared in an analogous manneras described for example 4-1 using[4-(5-bromo-6-chloro-pyridine-3-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester and the appropriate commercially available alkylalcohols.

Example MS (ESI+, No. Systematic Name M + H) Structure 4-2{(R)-4-[(5-Bromo-6-cyclobutoxy- pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}- acetic acid ethyl ester 527

4-3 {(R)-4-[(5-Bromo-6-isopropoxy- pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}- acetic acid ethyl ester 515

4-4 ((R)-4-{[5-Bromo-6-(tetrahydro- pyran-4-yloxy)-pyridine-3-sulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester557

Example 4-1a{(R)-4-[(3-Chloro-4-cyclopentyloxy-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid

Starting with{(R)-4-[(3-chloro-4-cyclopentyloxy-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester using a method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,{(R)-4-[(3-chloro-4-cyclopentyloxy-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid (68.3 mg, 39.8%) was obtained as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz,CD₃OD) δ ppm 7.90 (d, 1H), 7.83 (dd, 1H), 7.30 (d, 1H), 6.51 (s, 1 H),5.06 (m, 2H), 4.79 (s, 2H), 2.63 (s, 3H), 2.55 (m, 2H), 2.07-1.68 (m,12H). MS cald. for C₂₁H₂₆ClN₃O₅S 467C₂₂H₂₆F₃N₃O₄S 485, obsd. (ESI⁺)[(M+H)⁺] 468.

Examples 4-2a to 4-4a

The following examples 4-2a to 4-4a were prepared in an analogous manneras described for example 1-1a using the corresponding esters.

¹H NMR (400 Example MHz, CD₃OD) δ MS (ESI+, No. Systematic Name ppm M +H) Structure 4-2a {(R)-4-[(5-Bromo-6- cyclobutoxy-pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-methyl- amino]-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}- acetic acid8.61 (d, 1 H), 8.38 (d, 1 H), 6.713 (s, 1 H), 5.37 (m, 1 H), 5.12 (q, 1H), 4.79 (s, 2 H), 2.61 (s, 3 H), 2.54 (m, 4 H), 2.27-1.78 (m, 8 H) 499

4-3a {(R)-4-[(5-Bromo-6- isopropoxy-pyridine-3- sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}- acetic acid 8.63 (s, 1 H),8.38 (s, 1 H), 6.73 (s, 1 H), 5.49 (m, 1 H), 5.12 (t, 3 H), 4.78 (s, 2H), 2.66 (s, 3 H), 2.54 (m, 2 H), 2.07-1.64 (m, 4 H), 1.43 (q, 6 H) 487

4-4a* ((R)-4-{[5-Bromo-6- (tetrahydro-pyran-4- yloxy)-pyridine-3-sulfonyl]-methyl- amino}-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)- acetic acid8.63 (d, 1 H), 8.41 (d, 1 H), 6.73 (s, 1 H), 5.52-5.43 (m, 1 H),5.16-5.07 (m, 1 H), 4.80 (s, 2 H), 3.99 (t, 2 H), 3.67 (t, 2 H), 2.65(s, 3 H), 2.60-2.46 (m, 2 H), 2.14- 2.06 (m, 2 H), 2.04-1.98 (m, 1 H),1.89-1.75 (m, 4 H), 1.72- 1.60 (m, 1 H) 529

*The solvent used for ¹H NMR was CDCl₃.

Example 5-1[(R)-4-(3-Methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester

[(R)-4-(3-Bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]aceticacid ethyl ester (118.0 mg, 0.20 mmol), methanesulfinic acid sodium salt(24.5 mg, 0.24 mmol), copper(I) iodide (4.0 mg, 0.02 mmol) and L-prolinesodium salt (3.2 mg, 0.04 mmol) were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide(1.5 mL) and water (0.3 mL). The mixture was heated in a microwave ovenat 150° C. for 30 minutes. The resulting mixture was diluted with waterand extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed withbrine, dried over sodium sulfate, concentrated and purified by columnchromatography (gradient elution, 0-5% methanol in dichloromethane) toafford[(R)-4-(3-methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (52.0 mg, 51.1%) as a white solid. MS calcd. forC₁₉H₂₂F₃N₃O₆S₂ 509, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 510.

Example 5-1a[(R)-4-(3-Methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetra-hydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid

Starting with[(R)-4-(3-methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester using the method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,[(R)-4-(3-methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid (26.8 mg, 54.6%) was obtained as an off-white solid. ¹H NMR (400MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.67 (s, 1H), 8.50 (d, 2H), 7.00 (s, 1H), 4.50 (s,1H), 3.34 (s, 3H), 2.50 (m, 2H), 2.01-1.72 (m, 4H). MS cald. forC₁₇H₁₈F₃N₃O₆S₂ 481, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 482.

Example 6-1{(R)-4-[(3-Methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

Starting with[(R)-4-(3-methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (example 5-1) and methyl iodide using the methodanalogous to the one described for example 2-1,{(R)-4-[(3-methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester was obtained MS cald. for C₂₀H₂₄F₃N₃O₆S₂ 523, obsd.(ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺]: 524.

Example 6-1a{(R)-4-[(3-Methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid

Starting with{(R)-4-[(3-methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester using the method analogous to the one described for1-1a,{(R)-4-[(3-methanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid (45 mg, 90%) was prepared as an off-white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz,CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.69 (s, 1H), 8.57 (s, 1H), 8.51 (s, 1H), 6.66 (s, 1 H),5.22 (t, 1H), 4.80 (s, 2H), 3.29 (s, 3H), 2.70 (s, 3H), 2.55 (m, 2H),2.05-1.66 (m, 4H). MS cald. for C₁₈H₂₀F₃N₃O₆S₂ 495, obsd. (ESI⁺)[(M+H)⁺] 496.

Example 7-1[(R)-4-(3-Ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester

[(R)-4-(3-Ethanesulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl-]-aceticacid ethyl ester

A mixture of[(R)-4-[(3-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (45.0 mg, 0.10 mmol), ethanethiol (50 μL), andpotassium carbonate (55.0 mg, 0.40 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (1.0mL) was heated in a microwave oven at 150° C. for 30 minutes. Aftercooling to room temperature, the resulting mixture was neutralized with1N hydrochloric acid and extracted with ethyl acetate (20 mL×3). Thecombined organic layers were washed with brine (20 mL), dried oversodium sulfate, concentrated to afford[(R)-4-(3-ethanesulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (35.1 mg, 71.2%) as a viscous oil. MS calcd. forC₂₀H₂₄F₃N₃O₄S₂491, obsd (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 492.

[(R)-4-(3-Ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester

To a solution of{(R)-4-[(3-ethanesulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino)]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (35.1 mg, 0.07 mmol) in dichloromethane was addedm-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA) (34.7 mg, 0.20 mmol) at 0° C. Afterstirring at room temperature for 3 hours, the resulting mixture wasconcentrated and purified by column chromatography (5% methanol indichloromethane) to afford[(R)-4-[(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino)]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (20.0 mg, 54.6%) as a semisolid. MS calcd. forC₂₀H₂₄F₃N₃O₆S₂ 523, obsd (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 524.

Example 7-2

The following example 7-2 was prepared in an analogous manner asdescribed for example 7-1 using[(R)-4-[(3-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester and cyclopentanethiol.

MS Example (ESI+, No. Systematic Name M + H) Structure 7-2[(R)-4-(3-Cyclopentanesulfonyl-5- trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-acetic acidethyl ester 564

Example 7-1a[(R)-4-(3-Ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid

Starting with[(R)-4-(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester using the method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,[(R)-4-(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid (5.7 mg, 30.2%) was obtained as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz,CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.66 (s, 1H), 8.54 (s, 1H), 8.49 (s, 1H), 6.80 (s, 1H),4.80 (s, 2H), 4.52 (s, 1H), 3.50 (q, 2H), 2.60 (m, 2H), 2.01-1.72 (m,4H), 1.30 (t, 3H). MS cald. for C₁₈H₂₀F₃N₃O₆S₂ 495, obsd. (ESI⁺)[(M+H)⁺] 496.

Example 7-2a

The following example 7-2a was prepared in an analogous manner asdescribed for example 1-1a using the corresponding ester.

MS Example ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ (ESI+, No. Systematic Name ppm M +H) Structure 7-2a [(R)-4-(3- Cyclopentane- sulfonyl-5- trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl- amino)-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl]- acetic acid8.62 (s, 1 H), 8.52 (s, 1 H), 8.45 (s, 1 H), 6.78 (s, 1 H), 4.98 (s, 2H), 4.52 (t, 1 H), 3.82 (m, 1 H), 2.50 (m, 2 H), 2.06-1.82 (m, 4 H) 536

Example 8-1{(R)-4-[(3-Ethanesulfinyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

{(R)-4-[(3-Fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetra-hydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

Starting with[(R)-4-(3-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (prepared by a method described above for example 1-1)and methyl iodide, using the method analogous to the one described forexample 2-1,{(R)-4-[(3-fluoro-5-trifluoro-methyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (500 mg, 94%) was prepared as a white solid. LC-MScald. for C₁₉H₂₁F₄N₃O₄S 463, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 464.

{(R)-4-[(3-Ethylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

Starting with{(R)-4-[(3-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester and ethanethiol using a method analogous to the onedescribed for the 1^(st) step of example 7-1,{(R)-4-[(3-ethylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (136 mg, 86%) was obtained as a white solid. MS cald.for C₂₁H₂₆F₃N₃O₄S₂ 505, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 506.

{(R)-4-[(3-Ethanesulfinyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

To a solution of{(R)-4-[(3-ethylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (50.6 mg, 0.10 mmol) in dichloromethane was added3-chloro-benzenecarboperoxoic acid (m-CPBA) (19.1 mg, 0.11 mmol) at 0°C. After stirring at room temperature for 3 hours, the resulting mixturewas concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash column(gradient elution, 5% methanol in dichloromethane) to afford{(R)-4-[(3-ethanesulfinyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (39.6 mg, 76.2%) as a semisolid. MS cald. forC₂₁H₂₆F₃N₃O₅S₂521, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 522.

Example 8-1a{(R)-4-[(3-Ethanesulfinyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid

Starting with{(R)-4-[(3-ethylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester using the method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,{(R)-4-[(3-ethanesulfinyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid (13 mg, 34.6%) was obtained as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz,CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.50 (s, 1H), 8.35 (d, 2H), 6.57 (d, 1H), 5.20 (t, 1H),4.82 (s, 2H), 3.27-3.16 (m, 1H), 2.99-2.88 (m, 1H), 2.71 (s, 3H),2.62-2.48 (m, 2 H), 2.09-1.99 (m, 1H), 1.88-1.76 (m, 2H), 1.73-1.63 (m,1H), 1.17 (t, 3H). MS cald. for C₁₉H₂₂F₃N₃O₅S₂ 493, obsd. (ESI⁺)[(M+H)⁺] 494.

Example 9-1{(R)-4-[(3-Cyclopentylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

Starting with{(R)-4-[(3-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (1^(st) step intermediate of example 8-1) andcyclopentanethiol using the method analogous to the method analogous tothe one described for the 1^(st) step of example 7-1,{(R)-4-[(3-Cyclopentylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (20.2 mg, 83%) was obtained. MS cald. forC₂₄H₃₀F₃N₃O₄S₂ 545, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 546.

Example 9-1a{(R)-4-[(3-Cyclopentylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid

Starting with{(R)-4-[(3-cyclopentyl-sulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetra-hydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester using the method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,{(R)-4-[(3-cyclopentylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid (13.2 mg, 68.7%) was obtained as a light yellow solid. ¹H NMR (400MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.04 (s, 1H), 7.91 (d, 2H), 6.51 (s, 1H), 5.13 (s,1H), 4.81 (s, 2H), 3.90 (m, 1H), 2.67 (q, 2H), 2.56 (m, 2H), 2.23-2.04(m, 4H), 1.83-1.63 (m, 8H). MS cald. for C₂₂H₂₆F₃N₃O₄S₂ 517, obsd.(ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 518.

Example 10-1{(R)-4-[(3-Ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

Starting with{(R)-4-[(3-ethylsulfanyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (1^(st) step intermediate of example 8-1) using themethod analogous to the one described for example 7-1,{(R)-4-[(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester was obtained as a white solid. MS cald. forC₂₁H₂₆F₃N₃O₆S₂ 537, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 538.

Example 10-2 to 10-7

The following examples 10-2 to 10-7 were prepared in an analogous manneras described for example 10-1 using[(R)-4-[(3-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester or(R)-3-[4-(3-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-propionicacid methyl ester, methyl iodide, and the commercially available alkylthiols.

Example MS (ESI+, No. Systematic Name M + H) Structure 10-2{(R)-4-[(3-Cyclopentanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}- acetic acid ethyl ester 578

10-3 ((R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(propane-2-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester 552

10-4 ((R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(2-methyl-propane-2- sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acidethyl ester 566

10-5 3-((R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(propane-2-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-propionic acid methyl ester 552

10-6 3-{(R)-4-[(3-Cyclopentanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}- propionic acid ethyl ester 578

10-7 3-((R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(2-methyl-propane-2-sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-propionic acid methyl ester 566

Example 10-1a{(R)-4-[(3-Ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid

Starting with{(R)-4-[(3-ethylsulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester using the method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,{(R)-4-[(3-ethanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid (10.9 mg, 36.6%) was obtained as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz,CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.62 (s, 1H), 8.52 (d, 2H), 6.64 (s, 1H), 5.21 (q, 1H),4.82 (s, 2H), 3.37 (q, 2H), 2.68 (s, 3H), 2.50 (m, 2H), 2.06-1.82 (m,4H), 1.27 (t, 3 H). MS cald. for C₁₉H₂₂F₃N₃O₆S₂ 509, obsd. (ESI⁺)[(M+H)⁺] 510.

Example 10-2a to 10-7a

The following examples 10-2a to 10-7a were prepared in an analogousmanner as described for example 1-1a using the corresponding ester.

MS Example ¹H NMR (400 MHz, (ESI+, No. Systematic Name CD₃OD) δ ppm M +H) Systematic Name 10-2a {(R)-4-[(3- Cyclopentanesulfonyl-5-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonyl)-methyl- amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-acetic acid 8.60 (s, 1 H), 8.51 (s, 1 H), 8.48 (s, 1 H),6.45 (s, 1 H), 5.20 (q, 1 H), 4.53 (s, 2 H), 3.87 (m, 1 H), 2.71 (s, 3H), 2.50 (m, 2 H), 2.02-1.65 (m, 12 H) 550

10-3a ((R)-4-{Methyl-[3- (propane-2-sulfonyl)-5- trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}- 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid8.57 (s, 1 H), 8.53 (s, 1 H), 8.46 (s, 1 H), 6.67 (s, 1 H), 5.20 (m, 1H), 4.82 (s, 2 H), 3.56 (m, 1 H), 2.68 (s, 3 H), 2.54 (m, 2 H),2.04-1.64 (m, 4 H),1.28 (d, 6 H) 524

10-4a ((R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(2- methyl-propane-2- sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonyl]-amino}- 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acid 8.54 (d, 2 H), 8.39 (s, 1 H), 6.59 (s, 1 H),5.15 (t, 1 H), 4.74 (s, 2 H), 2.69 (s, 3 H), 2.59-2.44 (m, 2 H),2.06-1.96 (m, 1 H), 1.89-1.74 (m, 3 H), 1.32 (s, 9 H) 538

10-5a 3-((R)-4-{Methyl-[3- (propane-2-sulfonyl)-5- trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}- 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl)-propionicacid 8.59 (s, 1 H), 8.55 (s, 1 H), 8.48 (s, 1 H), 6.59 (s, 1 H), 5.21-5.151 (m, 1 H), 4.23 (t, 2 H), 3.60-3.52 (m, 1 H), 2.79 (t, 2 H),2.74-2.56 (m, 5 H), 2.09-2.00 (m, 1 H), 1.86-1.76 (m, 2 H), 1.72-1.64(m, 1 H), 1.33-1.29 (m, 6 H) 538

10-6a 3-{(R)-4-[(3- Cyclopentanesulfonyl-5- trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl- amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-propionic acid 8.61 (s, 1 H), 8.52 (s, 2 H), 6.58 (s, 1H), 5.20 (t, 1 H), 4.23 (s, 2 H), 3.92 (m, 3 H), 2.80-2.60 (m, 7 H),2.06-1.66 (m, 10 H). 564

10-7a 3-((R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(2- methyl-propane-2- sulfonyl)-5-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonyl]-amino}- 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-propionic acid 8.57 (d, 2 H), 8.42 (s, 1 H), 6.58 (s, 1H), 5.17 (t, 1 H), 4.23 (t, 2 H), 3.92 (m, 3 H), 2.83-2.60 (m, 5 H),2.05-1.66 (m, 4 H), 1.38 (s, 9 H) 552

Example 11-1{(R)-4-[3-(1-Methyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

[(R)-4-(3-Isopropenyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester

To a solution of[(R)-4-(3-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (Example 1-1, 100 mg, 0.196 mmol) inN,N-dimethylformamide (2 mL) in a microwave vial (5 mL),tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (22 mg, 0.19 mmol), potassiumtert-butoxide (45 mg, 0.4 mmol) and isopropenyl boronic acid pinacolester (55 μl, 0.294 mmol) were added. After being heated in a microwaveoven (130° C., 15 min.), the mixture was poured into aq. ammoniumchloride (10 mL) and extracted with dichloromethane (20 mL×3). Thecombined organic layers were washed with water (10 mL×3) and brine (20mL), dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residuewas purified by column chromatography (gradient elution, 0-5% methanolin dichloromethane) to afford[(R)-4-(3-isopropenyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (34 mg, 36.8%) as a white solid, MS calcd. forC₂₁H₂₄F₃N₃O₄S 471, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 472.

{(R)-4-[3-(1-Methyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

To a solution of diiodomethane (1.0 mL, 16 mmol) in toluene (10 mL) wasadded diethylzinc (15% in hexane, 10 mL, 8.8 mmol) under an argonatmosphere at 0° C. and the mixture was stirred for 15 minutes. To themixture was added[(R)-4-(3-isopropenyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (0.2 g, 0.46 mmol) in toluene (4 ml) and the mixturewas stirred at 0° C. and then room temperature for 4 hours. The mixturewas poured into aqueous ammonium chloride (20 mL) and extracted withdichloromethane (30 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed withwater (20 mL×3), then brine (30 mL), dried over sodium sulfate,concentrated and purified by preparative HPLC to afford{(R)-4-[3-(1-methyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (40 mg, 18%) as a white solid. MS calcd. forC₂₂H₂₆F₃N₃O₄S 485, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 486.

Example 11-1a{(R)-4-[3-(1-Methyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid

Starting with{(R)-4-[3-(1-methyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester using the method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,{(R)-4-[3-(1-methyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid (10 mg, 53%) was obtained as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD)δ ppm 8.04 (s, 1H), 8.00 (s, 1 H), 7.81 (s, 1H), 6.59 (s, 1H), 4.79 (s,2H), 4.40 (t, 1H), 2.60-2.45 (m, 2H), 1.93-1.74 (m, 4 H), 1.50 (s, 3H),0.94 (m, 4H). MS cald. for C₂₀H₂₂F₃N₃O₄S 457, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 458.

Example 12-1(R)-[4-(3-Isopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester

A solution of(R)-[4-(3-isopropenyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (using a method analogous to the one described for1^(st) step intermediate of example 11-1) (34 mg, 0.072 mmol) inmethanol was hydrogenated over 10% Pd/C (6 mg) under 30 psi for 3 hoursat room temperature. The reaction mixture was filtered through a glassfunnel and concentrated to afford(R)-[4-(3-isopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (33 mg, 96.8%) as a white solid. MS cald forC₂₁H₂₆F₃N₃O₄S 473, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 474.

Example 12-1a(R)-[4-(3-Isopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid

Starting with(R)-[4-(3-isopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester Prepared by a method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,(R)-[4-(3-isopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl-amino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid (28.1 mg, 89.8%) was obtained as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz,CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.00 (s, 1H), 7.91 (s, 1H), 6.38 (s, 1H), 5.16 (q, 1H),4.80 (s, 2H), 3.18 (m, 1H), 2.60-2.51 (m, 2H), 2.02-1.65 (m, 4H). MScald. for C₁₉H₂₂F₃N₃O₄S 445, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 446.

Example 13-1{(R)-4-[(3-Isopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

Starting with[(R)-4-(3-isopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (Example 12-1) and methyl iodide, using the methodanalogous to the one described for example 2-1,{(R)-4-[(3-isopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (30 mg, 82.9%) was obtained as an off-white semisolid.MS cald. for C₂₂H₂₈F₃N₃O₄S 487, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 488

Example 13-1a{(R)-4-[(3-Isopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid

Starting with[(R)-4-(3-isopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester using the method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,{(R)-4-[(3-isopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid (23.0 mg, 81.6%) was obtained as an off-white semisolid. ¹H NMR(400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.06 (s, 1H), 8.00 (s, 1H), 7.91 (s, 1H), 6.38(s, 1H), 5.16 (q, 1H), 4.81 (s, 2H), 3.18 (m, 1H), 2.60-2.50 (m, 2H),2.66 (s, 3H), 2.05-1.63 (m, 4 H), 1.34 (d, 6H). MS cald. forC₁₉H₂₂F₃N₃O₄S 459, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 460.

Example 14-1(R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(1-methyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester

{(R)-4-[(3-Isopropenyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

Starting with[(R)-4-(3-isopropenyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl-amino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester and methyl iodide, using the method analogous to theone described above for example 2-1,{(R)-4-[(3-isopropenyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (70.7 mg, 89%) was prepared. MS cald. for C₂₂H₂₆F₃N₃O₄S485, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 486.

((R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(1-methyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester

To a solution of{(R)-4-[(3-isopropenyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (70.7 mg, 0.15 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (2 mL) wasadded a solution of diazomethane in diethyl ether (1M, 8 mL) slowly at0° C. under an argon atmosphere, and then a portion of palladium acetate(5 mg) was added. After the mixture was stirred for 10 minutes, a secondportion of palladium acetate (5 mg) was added and the mixture wasstirred for another 20 minutes, followed by addition of a second portionof a solution of diazomethane in diethyl ether (1M, 5 mL). After beingstirred at 0° C. for 2 hours under an argon atmosphere, the reactionmixture was then quenched by the addition of a few drops of acetic acid,and then filtered through a glass funnel and concentrated in vacuo. Theresidue was purified by flash column (gradient elution, 0-10% methanolin dichloromethane) to afford((R)-4-{methyl-[3-(1-methyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester (74.5 mg, 99%) as a colorless semisolid. MS cald. forC₂₃H₂₈F₃N₃O₄S 499, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 500.

Example 14-1a((R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(1-methyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid

Starting with((R)-4-{methyl-[3-(1-methyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester using the method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,((R)-4-{methyl-[3-(1-methyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid (35 mg, 61.9%) was obtained as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz,CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.00 (s, 1H), 7.95 (s, 1H), 7.85 (s, 1H), 6.38 (s, 1H),5.11 (q, 1H), 4.78 (s, 2H), 2.63 (s, 3H), 2.60-2.45 (m, 2H), 2.03-1.63(m, 4H), 1.48 (s, 3H), 0.94 (m, 4H). MS cald. for C₂₁H₂₄F₃N₃O₄S 471,obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 472.

Example 15-1((R)-4-{[3-(1-Ethyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester

((R)-4-{Methyl-[3-(1-methylene-propyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester

To a solution of{(R)-4-[(3-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (example 2-5) (prepared by the method analogous to theone described for example 2-1) (130 mg, 0.25 mmol) andbis-(1-methylene-propyl)-zinc (174.6 mg, 1.0 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (5mL), bis(dibenzylidene-acetone)palladium (7.2 mg, 0.013 mmol) andtris(tert-butyl)phosphine (80 μL, 0.025 mmol) were added under an argonatmosphere. After being stirred at 50° C. for 18 hours, the mixture wascooled to room temperature, and then poured into saturated ammoniumchloride and extracted with ethyl acetate (20 mL×3). The organic layerswere combined, washed with saturated brine, dried over sodium sulfateand concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash column(gradient elution: 0-20% methanol in dichloromethane) to afford((R)-4-{methyl-[3-(1-methylene-propyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester as a yellow solid (100 mg, 80.1%). MS cald. forC₂₃H₂₈F₃N₃O₄S 499, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 500.

((R)-4-{[3-(1-Ethyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester

Starting with((R)-4-{methyl-[3-(1-methylene-propyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetra-hydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester and a solution of diazomethane in diethyl ether usingthe method analogous to the one described above for 2^(nd) step ofexample 14-1,((R)-4-{[3-(1-ethyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester (82 mg, 83%) was obtained as a white solid. MS cald.for C₂₄H₃₀F₃N₃O₄S 513, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 514.

Example 15-1a((R)-4-{[3-(1-Ethyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid

Starting with((R)-4-{[3-(1-Ethyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester using the method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,((R)-4-{[3-(1-ethyl-cyclopropyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid (41 mg, 70.2%) was obtained as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz,CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.07 (s, 1H), 8.00 (s, 1H), 7.91 (s, 1H), 6.39 (s, 1H),5.51 (q, 1H), 4.82 (s, 2H), 2.65 (s, 3H), 2.60-2.51 (m, 2H), 2.05-1.67(m, 6H), 1.48 (s, 3H), 0.94 (m, 4H), 0.90 (m, 7H). MS cald forC₂₂H₂₆F₃N₃O₄S 485, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 486.

Example 16-1[4-(3-Ethynyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester

[4-(3-Trifluoromethyl-5-trimethylsilanylethynyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester

To a mixture of[4-(3-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (example 1-7) (51 mg, 0.10 mmol) andethynyl-trimethyl-silane (20 mg, 0.20 mmol) in triethylamine (0.5 mL)and toluene (0.5 mL), was added copper(I) iodide (0.6 mg, 0.003 mmol)and bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride (2.4 mg, 0.003 mmol).The mixture was heated in a microwave oven at 80° C., for 20 minutes.The resulting mixture was diluted with water and extracted with ethylacetate. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over sodiumsulfate, concentrated and purified by column chromatography (gradientelution, 0-5% methanol in dichloromethane) to afford[4-(3-trifluoromethyl-5-trimethylsilanylethynyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (50 mg, 94.8%) as a brown oil. MS calcd. forC₂₃H₂₈F₃N₃O₄SSi 527, obsd (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 528.

[4-(3-Ethynyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester

To a solution of[4-(3-trifluoromethyl-5-trimethylsilanylethynyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (40.0 mg, 0.076 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide andwater (3 mL, 150:1) was added potassium fluoride (23.0 mg, 0.30 mmol).The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 4 hours. The resultingmixture was poured into ice and extracted with dichloromethane. Theorganic layer was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate,concentrated and purified by column chromatography (gradient elution,0-5% methanol in dichloromethane) to afford[4-(3-ethynyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (34.0 mg, 98.2%) as a white solid. MS calcd. forC₂₀H₂₀F₃N₃O₄S 455, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 456.

Example 16-1a[4-(3-Ethynyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid

Starting with[4-(3-ethynyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester using the method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,[4-(3-ethynyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid (7.6 mg, 23.7%) was obtained as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz,CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.22 (s, 1H), 8.16 (s, 1H), 8.03 (s, 1H), 7.13 (s, 1H),4.46 (t, 1H), 3.93 (s, 1H), 2.50 (m, 2H), 2.00-1.62 (m, 4H). MS cald.for C₁₈H₁₆F₃N₃O₄S 427, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 428.

Example 17-1{(R)-4-[Methyl-(3-trifluoromethyl-5-trimethylsilanyl-benzenesulfonyl)-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

A 10 mL round bottom flask equipped with a reflux condenser and amagnetic stirring bar was charged withtris(dibenzylideneactone)dipalladium (14 mg, 0.01 mmol),{(R)-4-[(3-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (example 2-5) (prepared by the method analogous to theone described for example 2-1) (52.4 mg, 0.10 mmol),2-(di-tert-butylphosphino)-biphenyl (3.0 mg, 0.01 mmol) and potassiumfluoride (58 mg, 0.50 mmol, 50 wt % on Celite) and purged with argon.Degassed 1,3-dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2(1H)-pyrimidinone (DMPU) (3mL) was then added by syringe. After the mixture was stirred at roomtemperature for 5 minutes, 1,1,1,2,2,2-hexamethyldisilane (58.1 mg, 0.41mmol) was added by syringe. After being stirred at 100° C. for 4 hours,the mixture was poured into saturated sodium chloride and extracted withethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried oversodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified byflash column (gradient elution: 0-5% methanol in dichloromethane) toafford{(R)-4-[methyl-(3-trifluoromethyl-5-trimethylsilanyl-benzenesulfonyl)-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (30 mg, 58%) as a white solid. MS cald. forC₂₂H₃₀F₃N₃O₄SSi 517, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 518.

Example 17-1a{(R)-4-[Methyl-(3-trifluoromethyl-5-trimethylsilanyl-benzenesulfonyl-1)-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid

Starting with{(R)-4-[Methyl-(3-trifluoromethyl-5-trimethylsilanyl-benzenesulfonyl)-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester using the method analogous to the one described example1-1a,{(R)-4-[Methyl-(3-trifluoromethyl-5-trimethylsilanyl-benzenesulfonyl)-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid (8.2 mg, 56%) as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.27(s, 1H), 8.15 (s, 1H), 8.11 (s, 1H), 6.42 (s, 1 H), 5.16 (q, 1H), 4.83(s, 2H), 2.65 (s, 3H), 2.53 (m, 2H), 2.05-1.66 (m, 4H), 0.39 (s, 9H). MScald. for C₂₀H₂₆F₃N₃O₄SSi 489, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 490.

Example 18-1{(R)-4-[(3-Cyclopentyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

To a mixture of{(R)-4-[(3-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (example 2-5) (prepared by the method analogous to theone described for example 2-1) (290 mg, 0.556 mmol) and a solution ofcyclopentylzinc bromide in tetrahydrofuran (0.5 M, 10.0 mL, 5.0 mmol),bis(dibenzylideneacetone)palladium(0) (16.7 mg, 0.028 mmol) andtris(tert-butyl)phosphine (178 μL, 0.056 mmol) were added under an argonatmosphere. After being stirred at 50° C. for 1 hour, the mixture wasconcentrated in vacuo. Saturated ammonium chloride was added and themixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (20 mL×3). The organic layerswere combined, washed with saturated ammonium chloride, dried oversodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to afford{(R)-4-[(3-cyclopentyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (220 mg, 77%) as a viscous oil which was used for thenext step without any purification. MS cald. for C₂₄H₃₀F₃N₃O₄S 513,obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 514.

Example 18-1a{(R)-4-[(3-Cyclopentyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid

Starting with{(R)-4-[(3-cyclopentyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester using the method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,{(R)-4-[(3-cyclopentyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid (68.2 mg, 25.3%) was obtained as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz,CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.05 (s, 1H), 7.98 (s, 1H), 7.90 (s, 1H), 6.40 (s, 1H),5.15 (t, 1S), 4.79 (t, 1H), 2.60 (s, 1H), 2.50 (m, 2H), 2.20-1.60 (m,13H). MS cald. for C₂₂H₂₆F₃N₃O₄S 485, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 486.

Example 19-1{(R)-4-[(3-Acetyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester

To a solution of{(R)-4-[(3-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (example 2-5) (prepared by the method analogous to theone described for example 2-1) (1.0 g, 1.9 mmol) inN,N-dimethylformamide (8 mL) was addedtris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0) (Pd₂(dba)₃) (175 mg, 0.19mmol), triphenylarsine (Ph₃As) (175 mg, 5.72 mmol) and1-ethoxy-vinyltributyltin (1 mL, 2.86 mmol). After being stirred at 80°C. for 2 hours under an argon atmosphere, the reaction mixture wascooled to room temperature, 4N hydrochloric acid (1 mL) was added, andthe mixture was stirred at room temperature for 20 minutes. Theresulting mixture was poured into water (40 mL) and extracted with ethylacetate (3×20 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with water(20 mL) and brine (20 mL), and then concentrated in vacuo. The residuewas purified by flash column (gradient elution: 15-30% ethyl acetate inpetroleum ether) to afford{(R)-4-[(3-acetyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester as a yellow oil (800 mg, 86.4%). MS cald. forC₂₁H₂₄F₃N₃O₅S 487, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 488.

Example 19-1a{(R)-4-[(3-Acetyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid

Starting with{(R)-4-[(3-acetyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester using the method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,{(R)-4-[(3-acetyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid (17 mg, 76%) was prepared as a colorless viscous oil. ¹H NMR (400MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm8.66 (s, 1H), 8.55 (s, 1H), 8.41 (s, 1H), 6.68 (s, 1H),5.20 (q, 1H), 4.84 (s, 2H), 2.74 (s, 3H), 2.69 (s, 3H), 2.55 (m, 2H),2.05-1.62 (m, 4H). MS cald. for C₁₉H₂₀F₃N₃O₅S 459, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺]460.

Example 20-1((R)-4-{[3-(1,1-Difluoro-ethyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester

To a solution of{(R)-4-[(3-acetyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester (example 19-1) (300 mg, 0.616 mmol) in anhydrousdichloromethane (3 mL) in a bomb bottle (5 mL) was addedbis(2-methoxy-ethyl)aminosulfur trifluoride (400 μL, 2.17 mmol) under anargon atmosphere. After being stirred at 70° C. for 4 hours, the mixturewas cooled to room temperature, poured into saturated sodium bicarbonateand extracted with dichloromethane (20 mL×3). The combined organiclayers were washed with water (20 mL) and brine (20 mL) and thenconcentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash column(gradient elution: 15-30% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether) to afford((R)-4-{[3-(1,1-difluoro-ethyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester (250 mg, 79.7%) as a yellow oil. MS cald forC₂₁H₂₄F₅N₃O₄S 509, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 510.

Example 20-1a((R)-4-{[3-(1,1-Difluoro-ethyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid

Starting with((R)-4-{[3-(1,1-difluoro-ethyl)-5-trifluoro-methyl-benzenesulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester using a method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,((R)-4-{[3-(1,1-difluoro-ethyl)-5-trifluoro-methyl-benzenesulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid (80 mg, 42.6%) was obtained as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz,CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.32 (d, 2H), 8.19 (s, 1H), 6.58 (s, 1H), 5.20 (q, 1H),4.80 (s, 2H), 2.68 (s, 3H), 2.55 (m, 2H), 2.09 (m, 4H), 1.85-1.66 (m,3H). MS cald. for C₁₉H₂₀F₅N₃O₄S 481, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 482.

Example 21-12-{(R)-4-[(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-2-methyl-propionicacid methyl ester

To a solution of{(R)-4-[(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid (50 mg, 0.10 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (2 ml), sodium hydride(17 mg, 0.48 mmol) was added. The mixture was stirred at roomtemperature for 30 minutes. To the reaction mixture was added methyliodide (80 mg, 0.56 mmol) and the mixture was stirred at roomtemperature for 3 hours. After filtration, the filtrate was purified bypreparative HPLC to afford2-{(R)-4-[(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-2-methyl-propionicacid methyl ester (50 mg, 89%) as a white solid. MS calcd. forC₂₁1H₂₃F₆N₃O₄S 527, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 528.

Example 21-1a2-{(R)-4-[(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-2-methyl-propionicacid

Starting with2-{(R)-4-[(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-2-methyl-propionicacid methyl ester using the method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,2-{(R)-4-[(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-2-methyl-propionicacid (15 mg, 77%) was obtained as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD)δ ppm 8.48 (s, 2H), 8.35 (s, 1H), 6.60 (s, 1H), 5.21 (s, 1H), 2.65 (s,3H), 2.50 (m, 2H), 1.85 (m, 4H), 1.75 (d, 6H). MS cald. forC₂₀H₂₁F₆N₃O₄S 513, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 514.

Example 22-1[4-(3-Acetylamino-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester

[4-(3-Nitro-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester

Starting with (4-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-acetic acidethyl ester and 3-nitro-benzenesulfonyl chloride using the methodanalogous to the one described above for example 1-1,[4-(3-nitro-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (519 mg, 63.6%) was obtained as a white solid. MS cald.for C₁₇H₂₀N₄O₆S 408, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 409.

[4-(3-Amino-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester

To a solution of[4-(3-nitro-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (390 mg, 0.96 mmol) in acetic acid (3 mL) and ethanol(15 mL) was added zinc powder portionwise. After being heated at refluxfor 2 hours, the mixture was cooled to room temperature, diluted withdichloromethane (30 mL), filtered through a glass funnel andconcentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash column(gradient elution, 0-5% methanol in dichloromethane) to afford[4-(3-amino-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (300 mg, 83%) as a semisolid. MS cald. for C₁₇H₂₂N₄O₄S378, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 379.

[4-(3-Acetylamino-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester

To a solution of[4-(3-amino-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (30 mg, 0.079 mmol) and acetyl chloride (9.2 mg, 0.119mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (3 mL) was added triethylamine (16 mg, 0.158mmol) at 0° C. After being stirred at room temperature overnight, themixture was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flashcolumn (gradient elution, 0-5% methanol in dichloromethane) to afford[4-(3-acetylamino-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (24 mg, 72%) as a white solid. MS cald. for C₁₉H₂₄N₄O₅S420, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 421.

Example 22-1a[4-(3-Acetylamino-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid

Starting with[4-(3-acetylamino-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester using the method analogous to the one described forexample 1-1a,[4-(3-acetylamino-benzenesulfonylamino)-6,7-dihydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid (11.0 mg, 50%) was obtained as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz,CD₃OD) δ ppm 8.30 (s, 1H), 7.80 (d, 1H), 7.67 (d, 1H), 7.57 (d, 1H),6.72 (s, 1H), 4.77 (s, 2H), 4.38 (s, 1H), 3.76 (s, 3H), 2.60-2.45 (m,2H), 1.90-1.75 (m, 4H). MS cald. for C₁₇H₂₀N₄O₅S 392, obsd. (ESI⁺)[(M+H)⁺] 393.

Example 23-1[4-(3-Methanesulfonylamino-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester

Starting with[4-(3-amino-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester and methanesulfonyl chloride, and using the methodanalogous to the one described for example 22-1,[4-(3-methanesulfonylamino-benzene-sulfonyl-amino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (15 mg, 70%) was obtained as a white solid. MS cald.for C₁₈H₂₄N₄O₆S₂ 456, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺]:457.

Example 23-1a[4-(3-Methanesulfonylamino-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid

Starting from[4-(3-methanesulfonylamino-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester, and using the method analogous to the one describedfor example 1-1a,[4-(3-methanesulfonylamino-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid (10 mg, 50%) was obtained as a white solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD)δ ppm 7.82 (t, 1H), 7.75 (d, 2H), 6.02 (s, 1H), 5.08-4.99 (m, 1H), 4.79(s, 2H), 2.60 (s, 3H), 2.57-2.44 (m, 2H), 2.08-1.95 (m, 1H), 1.91-1.73(m, 2H), 1.71-1.62 (m, 1H), 1.40-1.37 (m, 18H). MS cald. forC₁₆H₂₀N₄O₆S₂ 428, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 429.

Example 24-1a{(R)-4-[Methyl-(3-pyrrolidin-1-yl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid

{(R)-4-[(3-Fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid (25 mg, 0.066 mmol) and pyrrolidine (47 mg, 0.66 mmol) weredissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (1.5 mL). The mixture was heated in amicrowave oven at 180° C. for 50 minutes. The resulting mixture wasacidified with acetic acid to pH 4, and then filtered and purified bypreparative HPLC to afford{(R)-4-[methyl-(3-pyrrolidin-1-yl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid (15 mg, 48.5%) as a white powder. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm7.24 (s, 1H), 7.14 (s, 1H), 6.98 (s, 1H), 6.41 (s, 1 H), 5.05 (t, 1H),4.75 (s, 2H), 3.35 (t, 4H), 2.61 (s, 3H), 2.45 (m, 2H), 2.08-1.61 (m,8H). MS calcd. for C₂₁H₂₅F₃N₄O₄S 486, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 487.

Examples 24-2a to 24-4a

The following examples 24-2a to 24-4a were prepared in an analogousmanner as described for example 24-1 using{(R)-4-[(3-fluoro-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid and the appropriate commercially available amines

MS Example ¹H NMR (400 MHz, (ESI+, No. Systematic Name CD₃OD) δ ppm M +H) Structure 24-2a ((R)-4-{[3-(Isopropyl- methyl-amino)-5-trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonyl]- methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1- yl)-acetic acid 7.38 (s, 1 H), 7.27 (s, 1 H), 7.21(s, 1 H), 6.38 (s, 1 H), 5.05 (t, 1 H), 4.74 (s, 2 H), 4.21 (m, 1 H),2.83 (s, 3 H), 261 (s, 3 H), 2.51 (s, 2 H), 1.99 (s, 1 H), 1.85-1.60 (m,3 H), 1.20 (m, 6 H) 489

24-3a {(R)-4-[(3- Dimethylamino-5- trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-indazol-1- yl}-acetic acid 7.32 (s, 2H), 7.16 (s, 1 H), 6.43 (s, 1 H), 5.08 (t, 1 H), 4.76 (s, 2 H), 3.08 (s,6 H), 2.63 (s, 3 H), 2.57 (t, 2 H), 2.03-1.63 (m, 4 H) 461

24-4a {(R)-4-[(3- Diethylamino-5- trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-indazol-1- yl}-acetic acid 7.25 (s, 1H), 7.21 (s, 1 H), 7.07 (s, 1 H), 6.37 (s, 1 H), 5.03 (t, 1 H), 4.70 (s,2 H), 3.45 (m, 4 H), 2.60 (s, 3 H), 2.51 (s, 2 H), 1.98-1.61 (m, 4 H),1.15 (t, 6 H) 489

Example 25-1a[4-(3-Cyclopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid

[4-(3-Bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (51.0 mg, 0.10 mmol, example 1-8), cyclopropylboronicacid (10.4 mg, 0.12 mmol), palladium (II) acetate (1.2 mg, 0.005 mmol),tricyclohexylphosphine (2.8 mg, 0.010 mmol) and potassium phosphate(76.4 mg, 0.36 mmol) were dissolved in toluene (0.5 mL) and water (0.1mL). The mixture was heated in a microwave oven at 180° C. for 30minutes under an argon atmosphere. The resulting mixture was quenchedwith saturated ammonium chloride solution, and then extracted with ethylacetate. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over sodiumsulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified bypreparative HPLC to afford[4-(3-cyclopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid (4.2 mg, 18.9%) as a white powder. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm7.97 (s, 1H), 7.85 (s, 1H), 7.70 (s, 1H), 6.65 (s, 1H), 4.80 (s, 2H),4.41 (t, 1H), 2.50 (m, 2H), 2.20 (m, 1H), 2.00-1.73 (m, 4H), 1.15 (,2H), 0.85 (m, 2H). MS cald. for C₁₉H₂₀F₃N₃O₄S 443, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺]444.

Examples 25-2a to 25-3a

The following examples 25-2a to 25-3a were prepared in an analogousmanner as described for example 25-1a starting with[4-(3-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester (example 1-8) and the appropriate commerciallyavailable alkylboronic acids.

MS Example ¹H NMR (400 MHz, (ESI+, No. Systematic Name CD₃OD) δ ppm M +H) Structure 25-2a [4-(3-Methyl-5- trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonylamino)- 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid8.03 (d, 2 H), 7.82 (s, 1 H), 6.70 (s, 1 H), 4.80 (s, 2 H), 4.41 (t, 1H), 2.50 (m, 5 H), 2.20 (m, 1 H), 1.94-1.72 (m, 4 H). 418

25-3a [4-(3-Isopropenyl-5- trifluoromethyl- benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- indazol-1-yl]-acetic acid 8.28 (s, 1 H), 8.12 (s, 1H), 8.05 (s, 1 H), 6.70 (s, 1 H), 5.64 (s, 1 H), 5.38 (s, 1 H), 4.83-4.76 (m, 2 H), 4.43 (t, 1 H), 2.54 (d, J = 23.24 Hz, 2 H), 2.26 (s, 3H), 1.98-1.89 (m, 1 H), 1.80 (m, 3 H) 472

Example 26-1{(R)-4-[(3-Cyclopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid methyl ester

Starting with[(R)-4-(3-cyclopropyl-5-trifluoro-methyl-benzenesulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid (prepared by a method analogous to the one described above forexample 25-1a) and methyl iodide using a method analogous to theprocedure described for example 2-1,{(R)-4-[(3-cyclopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid methyl ester (45 mg, 86%) was obtained as a yellow solid. MS cald.for C₂₁H₂₄F₃N₃O₄S 471, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 472.

Example 26-1a{(R)-4-[(3-Cyclopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzenesulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid

Starting with{(R)-4-[(3-cyclopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid methyl ester (example 26-1) and using a method analogous to theprocedure described for example 1-1a,{(R)-4-[(3-cyclopropyl-5-trifluoromethyl-benzene-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid methyl ester (24.5 mg, 83.2%) was obtained as a yellow solid. ¹HNMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ ppm 7.97 (s, 1H), 7.85 (s, 1H), 7.70 (s, 1H),6.65 (s, 1H), 5.15 (q, 1H), 4.80 (s, 2H), 2.65 (s, 3 H), 2.50 (m, 2H),2.20 (m, 1H), 2.00-1.73 (m, 4H), 1.15 (m, 2H), 0.85 (m, 2H). MS cald.for C₂₀H₂₂F₃N₃O₄S 457, obsd. (ESI⁺) [(M+H)⁺] 458.

Activity and Use of the Compounds

The compounds of formula I possess valuable pharmacological properties.It has been found that said compounds are antagonists at the CRTH2receptor and may be useful in treating diseases and disorders associatedwith that receptor such as asthma. The activity of the present compoundsas CRTH2 receptor antagonists is demonstrated by the followingbiological assays.

Human CRTH2 Receptor Binding Assay

A whole cell receptor binding assay using [³H]ramatroban as thecompeting radioactive ligand was employed to evaluate the compoundbinding activity to human CRTH2. The radioactive ligand [³H]ramatrobanwas synthesized according to Sugimoto et. al. (Eur. J. Pharmacol. 524,30-37, 2005) to a specific activity of 42 Ci/mmol

A cell line stably expressing human CRTH2 was established bytransfecting CHO-K1 cells with two mammalian expression vectors thatharbored human CRTH2 and G-alpha16 cDNAs, respectively, using FuGene® 6transfection reagent (from Roche). Stable clones expressing CRTH2 wereselected by staining each clone with BM16 (BD Pharmingen™ from BDBiosciences, a division of Becton, Dickinson and Company), which is arat monoclonal antibody to human CRTH2. The cells were maintained asmonolayer cultures in Ham's F-12 medium containing 10% fetal bovineserum, 100 units/mL penicillin, 100 μg/mL streptomycin, 2 mM glutamine,0.5 mg/mL G418 (geneticin) for CRTH2, and 0.2 mg/mL hygromycin-B (forG-alpha 16). For whole cell receptor binding assay, the monolayer cellswere rinsed once with PBS (phosphate buffered saline), dissociated usingethylenediaminetetraacetate (Versene™ EDTA from Lonza Inc.), andsuspended in PBS containing 10 mM MgCl₂ and 0.06% BSA (bovine serumalbumin) at 1.5×10⁶ cells/mL.

The binding reactions (0.2 mL) were performed in 96-well plates at roomtemperature in PBS containing 1.5×10⁵ cells, 10 mM MgCl₂, 0.06% BSA, 20nM [³H]ramatroban, and test compound at various concentrations. After 1hour of binding reactions, the cells were harvested on GF™/B filtermicroplates (microtiter plates with embedded glass fiber fromPerkinElmer, Inc.) and washed 5 times with PBS using a Filtermate™Harvester (a cell harvester that harvests and washes cells frommicroplates from PerkinElmer, Inc.). The radioactivities bound to thecells were determined using a microplate scintillation counter(TopCount® NXT, from PerkinElmer, Inc.) after adding 50 μL ofMicroscint™ 20 scintillation fluid (from PerkinElmer, Inc.) to each wellof the filter plates. The radioactivity from non-specific binding wasdetermined by replacing compound with 10 μM of 15(R)-15-methyl PGD₂(from Cayman Chemical Company) in the reaction mixtures. Theradioactivity bound to the cells in the absence of compound (totalbinding) was determined by replacing compound with 0.25% of DMSO(dimethyl sulfoxide) in the reaction mixture. Specific binding data wereobtained by subtracting the radioactivity of non-specific binding fromeach binding data.

The IC₅₀ value is defined as the concentration of the tested compoundthat is required for 50% inhibition of total specific binding. In orderto calculate the IC₅₀ value, the percent inhibition data were determinedfor 7 concentrations for each compound. The percent inhibition for acompound at each concentration was calculated according to the followingformula, [1−(specific binding in the presence of compound)/(totalspecific binding)]×100. The IC₅₀ value was then obtained by fitting thepercent inhibition data to a sigmoidal dose-response (4 parameterlogistic) model in the XLfit® software Excel add-in program [from IDBusiness Solutions Ltd., model 205, where F(x)=(A+(B−A)/(1+((C/x)^D)))].

All the acid compounds of the foregoing examples were tested using theabove Human CRTH2 Receptor Binding Assay (examples 1-1a to 1-18a, 2-1ato 2-8a, 3-1a to 3-4a, 4-1a to 4-4a, 5-1a, 6-1a, 7-1a, 7-2a, 8-1a, 9-1a,10-1a to 10-7a, 11-1a, 12-1a, 13-1a, 14-1a, 15-1a, 16-1a, 17-1a, 18-1a,19-1a, 20-1a, 21-1a, 22-1a, 23-1a, 24-1a to 24-4a, 25-1a to 25-3a, and26-1a). The results of the assay showed that all of these compounds havebinding activity exhibiting IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.0021 μM to 0.4307μM. For instance, the following table shows the specific IC₅₀ values forsome of these compounds:

Human CRTH2 Binding Example No. IC₅₀ (μM) 1-1a 0.013 1-2a 0.3855 1-3a0.2341 1-4a 0.0164 1-5a 0.2248 1-6a 0.397 1-7a 0.0357 1-8a 0.4307 1-9a0.2769  1-10a 0.1194  1-11a 0.2912  1-12a 0.0533  1-13a 0.205  1-14a0.0432  1-15a 0.2624  1-16a 0.0059  1-17a 0.381  1-18a 0.2639 2-1a0.0121 2-2a 0.0978 2-3a 0.0786 2-4a 0.2531 2-5a 0.0112 2-6a 0.0502 2-7a0.1658 2-8a 0.0434 3-1a 0.1449 3-2a 0.3695 3-3a 0.0103 3-4a 0.1942 4-1a0.0992 4-2a 0.0391 4-3a 0.0372 4-4a 0.0539 5-1a 0.0031 6-1a 0.0025 7-1a0.0026 7-2a 0.0029 8-1a 0.0033 9-1a 0.0126 10-1a  0.0025 10-2a  0.002910-3a  0.0021 10-4a  0.0047 10-5a  0.0024 10-6a  0.0033 10-7a  0.012511-1a  0.0078 12-1a  0.022 13-1a  0.0073 14-1a  0.0062 15-1a  0.012316-1a  0.0698 17-1a  0.0556 18-1a  0.0286 19-1a  0.007 20-1a  0.003521-1a  0.2775 22-1a  0.0801 23-1a  0.0395 24-1a  0.0381 24-2a  0.045724-3a  0.0622 24-4a  0.1461 25-1a  0.022 25-2a  0.1424 25-3a  0.040426-1a  0.0163

Calcium Flux Assay Using Fluorometric Imaging Plate Reader (FLIPR)

Cell Culture Conditions:

CHO-K1 cells previously transfected with G-alpha 16 were subsequentlytransfected with the human CRTH2 receptor and the neomycin resistancegene. Following selection in 800 μg/mL G418 (geneticin), individualclones were assayed for their receptor expression based on staining withan anti human CRTH2 IgG, followed by assaying for their response to13,14-dihydro-15-keto Prostaglandin D₂ (DK-PDG₂) (ligand) in the Ca²⁺Flux assay. Positive clones were then cloned by limiting dilutioncloning. The transfected cells were cultured in Ham's F-12 mediumsupplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 2 mM glutamine, 100 U/mLpenicillin/100 μg/mL streptomycin, 200 μg/mL hygromycin B, and 800 μg/mLG418 (geneticin). Cells were harvested with trypsin-EDTA(trypsin-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) and counted using ViaCount®reagent (from Guava Technologies, Inc. which contains two DNA-bindingdyes that enable the reagent user to distinguish between viable andnon-viable cells). The cell suspension volume was adjusted to 2.5×10⁵cells/mL with complete growth media. Aliquots of 50 μL were dispensedinto BD Falcon™ 384 well black/clear microplates (from BD Biosciences, adivision of Becton, Dickinson and Company) and the microplates wereplaced in a 37° C. CO₂ incubator overnight. The following day, themicroplates were used in the assay.

Dye Loading and Assay:

Loading Buffer containing dye (from the FLIPR® Calcium 3 Assay Kit fromMolecular Devices, a division of MDS Analytical Technologies and MDSInc.) was prepared by dissolving the contents of one bottle into 200 mLHank's Balanced Salt Solution containing 20 mM HEPES(4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid) and 2.5 mMprobenecid. Growth media was removed from the cell plates and 25 μL ofHank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) containing 20 mM HEPES, 0.05% BSAand 2.5 mM probenecid was added to each well followed by 25 μL ofdiluted dye using a Multidrop dispenser. The plates were then incubatedfor 1 hour at 37° C.

During the incubation, test compound plates were prepared by adding 90μL of HBSS/20 mM HEPES/0.005% BSA buffer to the 2 μL of serial dilutedcompounds. To prepare serial diluted compounds, 20 mM stocks ofcompounds were dissolved in 100% DMSO. The compound dilution plate wasset up as follows: well #1 received 5 μL of compound plus 10 μL of DMSO.Wells 2-10 received 10 μL of DMSO. 5 μL was mixed and transferred fromwell #1 into well #2. 1:3 serial dilutions were continued out 10 steps.2 μL of diluted compound was transferred into duplicate wells of a 384well “assay plate” and then 90 μL of buffer was added.

After incubation, both the cell and “assay plate” plates were brought tothe fluorometric imaging plate reader (FLIPR®) and 20 μL of the dilutedcompounds were transferred to the cell plates by the FLIPR®. Plates werethen incubated for 1 hour at room temperature. After the 1 hourincubation, plates were returned to the FLIPR® and 20 μL of 4.5×concentrated ligand was added to the cell plates. During the assay,fluorescence readings were taken simultaneously from all 384 wells ofthe cell plate every 1.5 seconds. Five readings were taken to establisha stable baseline, then 20 μL of sample was rapidly (30 μL/sec) andsimultaneously added to each well of the cell plate. The fluorescencewas continuously monitored before, during and after sample addition fora total elapsed time of 100 seconds. Responses (increase in peakfluorescence) in each well following agonist addition were determined.The initial fluorescence reading from each well, prior to ligandstimulation, was used as a zero baseline value for the data from thatwell. The responses were expressed as % inhibition of the buffercontrol. The IC₅₀ value, defined as the concentration of a compound thatwas required for 50% inhibition of the buffer control, was calculated byfitting the percent inhibition data for 10 concentrations to a sigmoidaldose-response (4 parameter logistic) model using Genedata Screener®Condoseo software program [from Genedata AG, model 205, whereF(x)=(A+(B−A)/(1+((C/x)^D)))].

Representative compounds tested in the binding assay were tested usingthe above FLIPR® assay. The results of the FLIPR® assay showed that allof the representative compounds tested in this assay have activityexhibiting IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.0003 μM to 34.815 μM.

DK-PGD₂-Induced IL-13 Production Assay in Th2 Cells

Inhibition of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto Prostaglandin D₂ (DK-PGD₂)-inducedIL-13 production in T helper type 2 (Th2) cells was applied to evaluatecompound cellular potency.

Cultures of Th2 cells were established from blood of healthy humanvolunteers according to the following procedure. Peripheral bloodmononuclear cells (PBMC) were first isolated from 50 mL of fresh bloodby Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation, followed by CD4⁺ cellpurification using a CD4⁺ T Cell Isolation Kit II (from Miltenyi BiotecInc.). The CD4⁺ T cells were then differentiated to Th2 cells byculturing the cells in X-VIVO 15® medium (from Cambrex BioScienceWalkersville Inc.) containing 10% human AB serum (serum of blood type ABfrom Invitrogen Corporation), 50 U/mL of recombinant human interleukin-2(rhIL-2) (from PeproTech Inc.) and 100 ng/mL of recombinant humaninterleukin-4 (rhIL-4) (from PeproTech Inc.) for 7 days. The Th2 cellswere isolated using a CD294 (CRTH2) MicroBead Kit (from Miltenyi BiotecInc.) and amplified in X-VIVO 15® medium containing 10% human AB serumand 50 U/mL of rhIL-2 for 2 to 5 weeks. In general, 70% to 80% of theTh2 cells used in the assay are CRTH2-positive when analyzed byfluorescence-activated cell sorting using the BM16 antibody (aspreviously described) conjugated to phycoerythrin (PE).

To determine cellular inhibitory potency, compounds at variousconcentrations were incubated with 2.5×10⁴ Th2 cells and 500 nM DK-PGD₂for 4 hrs at 37° C. in 200 μL of X-VIVO 15® medium containing 10% humanAB serum. IL-13 production to the medium was detected by ELISA(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) using an “Instant ELISA™” kit (fromBender MedSystems Inc.) according to the procedure suggested by thevendor. The spontaneous production of IL-13 by Th2 cells was determinedin the absence of DK-PGD2 stimulation and the value was subtracted fromthat in the presence of each compound for percent inhibition and IC₅₀calculations.

The percent inhibition of interleukin 13 (IL-13) production for acompound at various concentrations was calculated according to thefollowing formula, [1-(IL-13 production in the presence ofcompound)/(IL-13 production in the presence of 0.15% DMSO)]_(x100). TheIC₅₀ value, defined as the concentration of a compound that is requiredfor 50% inhibition of IL-13 production, was calculated by fitting thepercent inhibition data for 7 concentrations to a sigmoidaldose-response (4 parameter logistic) model in the XLfit® software Exceladd-in program [ID Business Solutions Ltd., model 205, whereF(x)=(A+(B−A)/(1+((C/x)^D)))].

Representative compounds tested in the binding assay were tested usingthe foregoing DK-PGD₂-induced IL-13 production assay. The results of theDK-PGD₂-induced IL-13 production assay showed that all of therepresentative compounds tested in this assay have activity ininhibiting IL-13 production, exhibiting IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.0003μM to 0.309 μM.

Thus, the compounds of the present invention possess a specific,substantial and credible utility since the compounds tested show someactivity in at least one of the above three assays (i.e., binding at theCRTH2 receptor), and therefore may be useful as antagonists in treatingdiseases and disorders associated with this receptor such as asthma.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for thetreatment and/or prevention of diseases and disorders which areassociated with the modulation of CRTH2 receptors, which methodcomprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compoundof formula I to a human being or animal. A method for the treatmentand/or prevention of an inflammatory or allergic disease or disorder ispreferred. Such diseases or disorders may include (but are not limitedto) asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergicinflammation, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis.

The present invention is also directed to the administration of atherapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I incombination or association with other drugs or active agents for thetreatment of inflammatory or allergic diseases and disorders. In oneembodiment, the present invention relates to a method for the treatmentand/or prevention of such diseases or disorders comprising administeringto a human or animal simultaneously, sequentially, or separately, atherapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I and anotherdrug or active agent (such as another anti-inflammatory or anti-allergicdrug or agent). These other drugs or active agents may have the same,similar, or a completely different mode of action. Suitable other drugsor active agents may include, but are not limited to: Beta2-adrenergicagonists such as albuterol or salmeterol; corticosteroids such asdexamethasone or fluticasone; antihistamines such as loratidine;leukotriene antagonists such as montelukast or zafirlukast; anti-IgEantibody therapies such as omalizumab; anti-infectives such as fusidicacid (particularly for the treatment of atopic dermatitis); anti-fungalssuch as clotrimazole (particularly for the treatment of atopicdermatitis); immunosuppressants such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus;other antagonists of PGD2 acting at other receptors such as DPantagonists; inhibitors of phoshodiesterase type 4 such as cilomilast;drugs that modulate cytokine production such as inhibitors of TNF-alphaconverting enzyme (TACE); drugs that modulate the activity of Th2cytokines IL-4 and IL-5 such as blocking monoclonal antibodies andsoluble receptors; PPAR-gamma agonists such as rosiglitazone; and5-lipoxygenase inhibitors such as zileuton.

Unless stated to the contrary, all compounds in the examples wereprepared and characterized as described. All patents and publicationscited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

1. A compound of formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof; wherein: Q isnitrogen, R1 is hydrogen or lower alkyl optionally substituted byhalogen; R2 and R3 are bonded to the ring containing Q by substitutionof a hydrogen atom of a ring carbon atom; and R2 and R3 areindependently selected from the group consisting of: (1) hydrogen; (2)halogen; (3) —NH₂; (4) —NO₂; (5) lower alkyl optionally substituted byhalogen, (6) lower cycloalkyl optionally substituted by lower alkyl; (7)lower alkenyl; (8) lower alkynyl; (9) lower alkanoyl; (10) lower alkoxy;(11) lower cycloalkoxy; (12) lower heterocycloalkyl; (13) lowerheterocycloalkyloxy; (14) lower alkylsulfanyl, lower cycloalkylsulfanyl,or lower heterocycloalkylsulfanyl; (15) lower alkylsulfinyl, lowercycloalkylsulfinyl, or lower heterocycloalkylsulfinyl; (16) loweralkylsulfonyl, lower cycloalkylsulfonyl, or lowerheterocycloalkylsulfonyl; (17) lower alkylcarbonylamino; (18) loweralkylsulfonylamino; (19) lower dialkylamino; and (20) lowertrialkylsilyl; wherein at least one of R2 or R3 is a moiety other thanhydrogen; and n is 1 or
 2. 2. A compound of claim 1 which is an(R)-enantiomer.
 3. A compound of claim 1 wherein R1 is hydrogen orunsubstituted lower alkyl.
 4. A compound of claim 1 wherein R1 ishydrogen.
 5. A compound of claim 1 wherein R1 is methyl.
 6. A compoundof claim 1 wherein n is
 1. 7. A compound of claim 1 wherein R2 and R3are independently selected from the group consisting of: (1) halogen;(2) lower alkyl optionally substituted by halogen, (3) lower cycloalkyloptionally substituted by lower alkyl; (4) lower alkenyl; (5) loweralkynyl; (6) lower alkanoyl; (7) lower alkoxy; (8) lower cycloalkoxy;(9) lower alkylsulfonyl, lower cycloalkylsulfonyl, or lowerheterocycloalkylsulfonyl; (10) lower alkylcarbonylamino; (11) loweralkylsulfonylamino; (12) lower dialkylamino; and (13) lowertrialkylsilyl.
 8. A compound of claim 1 wherein R2 and R3 areindependently selected from the group consisting of: (1) halogen; (2)lower alkyl optionally substituted by halogen, (3) lower cycloalkyloptionally substituted by lower alkyl; (4) lower alkoxy; (5) lowercycloalkoxy; and (6) lower alkylsulfonyl or lower cycloalkylsulfonyl. 9.A compound of claim 1 wherein R2 and R3 are independently selected fromthe group consisting of: (1) halogen; (2) lower alkyl optionallysubstituted by halogen, and (3) lower alkylsulfonyl or lowercycloalkylsulfonyl.
 10. A compound of claim 1 wherein R2 and R3 areindependently selected from the group consisting of trifluoromethyl,lower alkylsulfonyl and lower cycloalkylsulfonyl.
 11. A compound ofclaim 1 wherein one of R2 or R3 is trifluoromethyl.
 12. A compound ofclaim 1 wherein R2 and R3, independently of each other, are bonded tothe ring containing Q at positions 3, 4 or 5 but not at the sameposition as each other.
 13. A compound of claim 1 wherein one of R2 orR3 is bonded to position 3 and the other is bonded to position 5 on thering containing Q.
 14. A compound of claim 1 wherein one of R2 or R3 isbonded to position 3 and the other is bonded to position 5 on the ringcontaining Q, and at least one of R2 or R3 is trifluoromethyl.
 15. Acompound of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of:[4-(5-Bromo-6-chloro-pyridine-3-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid;[4-(5-Bromo-6-ethoxy-pyridine-3-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid; and[4-(5-Bromo-6-cyclopentyloxy-pyridine-3-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid.
 16. A compound of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of:{(R)-4-[(5-Bromo-6-cyclobutoxy-pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid;{(R)-4-[(5-Bromo-6-isopropoxy-pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid; and((R)-4-{[5-Bromo-6-(tetrahydro-pyran-4-yloxy)-pyridine-3-sulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid.
 17. A pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a compound of claim 15.18. A pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a compound of claim
 16. 19. Acompound of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of:[4-(5-Bromo-6-chloro-pyridine-3-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester;[4-(5-Bromo-6-ethoxy-pyridine-3-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester;[4-(5-Bromo-6-cyclopentyloxy-pyridine-3-sulfonylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl]-aceticacid ethyl ester;{(R)-4-[(5-Bromo-6-cyclobutoxy-pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester;{(R)-4-[(5-Bromo-6-isopropoxy-pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-methyl-amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl}-aceticacid ethyl ester; and((R)-4-{[5-Bromo-6-(tetrahydro-pyran-4-yloxy)-pyridine-3-sulfonyl]-methyl-amino}-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-aceticacid ethyl ester.
 20. A pharmaceutical composition comprising atherapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 anda pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.